UW-Madison is literally just down the street from the center of Wisconsin government â_ only six city blocks separate Library Mall from the State Capitol.
Yet for many students, it could be a world away.
We have seen the numbers: only 47 percent of all citizens ages 18-24 voted in the last presidential election.
However, this Nov. 7, a choice will be made that will directly affect the lives of UW-Madison students for years to come. Too much is at stake to sit this one out.
Republican challenger Congressman Mark Green has been nothing more than a Bush crony during his tenure in Congress, voting with the President an incredible 92 percent of the time.
He has supported Bush's misguided policies on Iraq, stem-cell research, and federal student aid.
Green could do far more damage as our next Governor.
Green has tried to paint himself as a student-friendly politician, but in reality, he is a cash-strapped college student's worst nightmare. As a state legislator in the 1990s, Green voted for three consecutive budgets that significantly increased UW tuition.
Last February, Green cast the deciding vote for the largest-ever cut in federal student aid, reducing funding by nearly $12 billion. He has also repeatedly voted to freeze Pell Grant scholarships.
Considering his record, it is astounding that Green has the gall to blame Doyle for recent reductions in state funding for the UW System. These budget cuts were made by the Republican-controlled legislature.
They would have been far worse if not for Doyle's veto pen, which restored almost $35 million in Republican cuts for the UW and $8 million in cuts for financial aid. I highly doubt Green would fight to protect students from future funding cuts and tuition hikes.
We have already seen how much Mr. ""92 percent"" likes to vote the party line.Like President Bush, Green has also been a longstanding opponent of stem cell research, voting for and cosponsoring legislation to ban stem cell research eight times in Congress. After realizing that most Wisconsin families support stem cell research and the promise it holds to save lives and cure disease, Green said he supports a new unproven, experimental method of stem cell research that does not destroy embryos.
Researchers have acknowledged that this technique has failed and it does not hold nearly the potential of the type of research championed by Doyle.
Whoever you plan to vote for, keep in mind Doyle has fought hard to ensure that Wisconsin students can vote. The governor has continually vetoed the Republican-controlled legislature's efforts to stop specific groups of people from voting, including students.
Of course, who can blame Green for wanting to keep UW students out of the polls?
With a track record like his, I would not want students to vote either.
If you value your education, your tuition, your right to vote and your future, you should take the time to vote for Doyle on Nov. 7.
The UW-Madison College Democrats' kickoff meeting is tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 6:00 p.m. in 3650 Humanities. Come hear from student leaders and elected Democrats from across the state, including our Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton. There is too much at stake in this election to miss out.
Alec Luhn is a member of the UW-Madison College Democrats. His article appears special to The Daily Cardinal. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
