Paul's Blog

In two weeks, this nation will have a whole lot of new government.The campus climate has been crazy for months. Recently, there was a big story with two students (one of them a music major, actually, I took Music Theory with him last year!) that refused to take down an Obama/Noriega sign that was hanging in their dorm room window. It became a clear free-speech problem, and both University Democrats and College Republicans united (for once) and protested to the Division of Housing and Food. The president repealed the existing ban on signage in dorm room windows, again signaling the safety of activism on campus.

The cool thing about UT is that you can be as liberal or conservative as you want to be, and nobody will think any less of you, as long as you can back it up. Some universities are entrenched in partisan regions, but UT’s in the middle of Austin, a liberal town, but serves Texas, a very red state, and the whole nation and international community, a widely diverse spectrum. It’s just really cool to hear everyone’s takes on political and social issues and to be around so many people who are open minded and caught up on the info.

Of course, there is the apathy. Many students are either not registered or just say that they don’t like either candidate enough to vote for president. I just fear that sometimes, college students are bombarded by people telling them what to think, and so they tune it all out instead of seeking out the truth. It’s on the Tower at UT Austin: “Ye Shall Know The Truth, and The Truth Shall Make You Free.” If you’re reading this and are of voting age, go find the facts. And look at Senatorial and House campaigns for the state and nation too! It’s a big deal, since they decide on the money they give to important things like loans and grants for college students.

In summation:

declare yourself.