Voter registration hampered by faulty fraud information

For the first two weeks of school, there have been many voter registration drives around campus with many groups getting involved to help increase student turnout for the upcoming election.

Last week a local TV news crew came to campus, not to report the success and enthusiasm of political participation in this important election cycle, but to accuse volunteers of engaging in criminal activity. The accusation was not about registering only people who liked one party or the other, but about registering students who have recently moved to Arizona to attend the UA. The news crew alleged it is a felony to register in Arizona if you are a new student from out of state.

The news report also included an interview with an official from the Pima County Recorder's office, which largely backed the claims of the story. Based on this evidence it seems as if politically active students are breaking the law by aiding and abetting potential voters.

If this is confusing to you, well, you are not alone. Common sense says if you want to exercise your right to vote, then you should be able to because you are an American citizen. In fact, the only things that can keep you from voting are if you are under 18 or judged by a court of law revoking that right. Here in Arizona, you also need a place of residence for 29 days before the election. Since students start school more than two months before the general election, the requirement is fulfilled.

So for the remaining students out there who are not registered yet, do not be intimidated out of your right to vote. For if this issue is allowed to pass without much notice, it negates all of the hard-fought battles that enabled students, minorities, women and others to expand the electorate from white, property-owning males.

Josh Silverstein
political science and history senior
UAYD voter registration director

Christian music interferes with enjoying lunch time

Another school year has begun and we all know what that means - nine more months of bad Christian music on the Mall.

I respect their beliefs, to a point, but I don't think they respect my lack of belief; if they did, they would not feel called upon to proselytize to me at high volume while I am trying to enjoy my lunch hour.

Please, can we restrict the lunchtime entertainment to groups without an ulterior motive?

Will Nelson
systems programmer, Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology

Decision to cancel ceremony should have included students

The idea of canceling December's graduation over the flinging of non-lethal food items and lack of "decorum" is ridiculous. I will admit I would probably not be so concerned if I myself were not set to graduate this December, but I think all of us in this situation have a right to be angry. It is unfair to cancel the ceremony in order to "see how things work out."

Perhaps the graduation ceremony is outmoded and some graduates would prefer something more low-key. This is fine for them; they don't have to come.

However, for those of us who feel we deserve the recognition for sticking out four (or more!) years here, the celebration should go on. It is nice to hear that our student government has been arguing to keep the ceremony, but it would have been nicer to hear that the issue was being debated in the first place, so students could have some input.

Unfortunately, like so many decisions (Alumni Plaza, anyone?), the preferences of the student body are disregarded. So the deans and President Likins are going to decide for us whether we can be trusted to behave and whether to give us the sendoff we deserve?

Honestly, I don't know how this became an issue in the first place, since I have not heard an outcry from the Hispanic and Native American communities bemoaning tortilla-flinging. It's a silly custom, but there is nothing sinister about it!

If I didn't know better, I would think this is all part of a new, clandestine UA Anti-Fun League. People like to relax on the green, green grass in front of Admin? Best tear it up! Students enjoy low tuition? Not anymore, they don't! Graduates looking forward to graduation? I think not!

Elyse Ritchey
studio art senior