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Mayoral candidates apathetic to university

To the editor,

I recently attended a mayoral debate on campus. This debate was between the four democratic mayoral candidates. I was shocked to learn and hear that it is the students fault that we are not involved in local politics. Having been to the Pima Democrats' headquarters on Broadway, I have noticed their bumper-stickers that say, "If you don't vote, you don't count."

Well, it appears that this is how our mayoral candidates feel about us.We don't vote in mayoral elections by and large, and therefore we don't count.

These candidates felt that we complained about politicians not listening to our views but that it was our duty to voice those views more loudly. Most of them also felt that we students weren't studying the right things and that's perhaps why we couldn't find jobs in Tucson after we graduated.

My friend had a good way of looking at this situation. He said that by not voting we are in fact making a vote. We're voting against the candidate. I think it's a good point. Where are the politicians that are willing to say what needs to be said: "The UA is a huge employer, and you need to be incorporated into our city." The UA is not just an employer, it's a huge mass of voters and citizens. We students give a lot of money to this town. Just think how much beer and alcohol you bought last weekend to party. All of that going to local business. Well, if we're not an important part of this town, I don't know what is.

There is an election coming up on Nov. 2nd. I think we should take our 35,000 votes and give them to someone who does care, someone who wants to integrate this university into the city. Someone who cares about our concerns when it comes to crime, busing and parking. We should give votes to someone other than the four people I saw this Tuesday. Let's show this town we do count.

Seth Frantzman

History/political science sophomore