Editorial:
A new era begins, little thanks to us

It might as well have been the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. Democrats knocked one out of the ballpark on Tuesday by gaining a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and capturing the Senate to take complete control of Congress. After being bombarded for months with expensive ads, voters took things into their own hands. They sent a resounding message — it’s time for change.

The stale rhetoric of “stay the course” in Iraq weighed heavily on those who went to the polls. Three years into the war, with more than 2,800 Americans dead and more than $380 billion spent, the frustration boiled over. However, President Bush and many of his fellow Republicans stayed latched on to a rosy picture that many people simply did not believe anymore. The results of this election highlight our desire for a new strategy in Iraq with clear signposts of success to lead U.S. troops home.

A culture of corruption was another issue that triggered the backlash. Most of us knew of former Congressman Mark Foley, R-Fla., and the congressional page scandal that ended with his resignation. Tired of politicians going beyond the law, voters revolted.

At Rider, we have reason to celebrate. Sen. Bob Menendez and Congressman Rush Holt were easily re-elected. Both have been staunch advocates for New Jersey, and friends of Rider, who have confronted President Bush on issues ranging from Iraq to port security to higher education funding.

A wise warning notice to Democrats, though. Go ahead, pop the champagne corks, but don’t celebrate too long. This new shift in power has the potential to lead to gridlock and leave President Bush the lamest of ducks. Instead, Democrats need to hit the ground running when the session in Congress begins and work to make the changes the voters elected them to enact.

Cutting the interest rates on student loans, expanding embryonic stem cell research and raising the federal minimum wage are issues Democrats are poised to confront. At the helm of this ambitious plan is Rep. Nancy Pelosi who will soon be the first female speaker of the House of Representatives.

For some reason, many students let the election pass by with little concern or care. In completing a Rider News survey last week asking students about their plans to vote, many had blank stares and seemed puzzled. One asked, “What election?” Barely half said they planned to vote. How come more votes can be cast for contestants on Dancing with the Stars or American Idol than in governmental elections? The simple fact is that many are allowing their futures to be shaped without a care in the world.

A lack of information and confusion seems to be a source of the problem. This week, a new Rider News survey found that of 116 polled who did not head to the voting booth, half did not know they could have registered to vote in Lawrenceville. It gets worse. Seniors really did not get the memo to vote, as only 27 percent turned out.

Rider should take specific steps to encourage participation of students. We suggest registration drives, information blitzes and even van service to the local voting center. The University did host the four local candidates for the Senate and House, but did little to connect with the half of the student body who felt no urgency to vote. Maybe it was because it was a midterm election and the presidency was not at stake; but that is no excuse.

The University is responsible to be a role model and to nurture us to become global citizens. Is it too much to ask?

Nonetheless, democracy made a triumphant return.