The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 8, 1988 - Page 3 STUDENTS AND ANN ARBOR 14 PM I Spend more than a penny... KARENHANDEMAN/Doily ...At Nickels Arcade. If you're looking for quaint shops, a post office, shelter from the rain, expensive clothing, or a short cut between Maynard and State Streets, this tunnel of tradition - located at the northwest end of the Diag - is for you. 'U,' studen BY DONNA IADIPAOLO Housing costs, crime prevention, and environmental preservation are Ann Arbor issues that University students could affect substantially, but many students still do not voice their opinions by voting in city elec- tions. "Most students who attend col- lege are more interested in them- selves than the social issues of Ann Arbor," said Michigan Student As- sembly President Mike Phillips, an LSA senior. "We try to inform stu- dents about issues that affect them most to get them to vote." "We are in the midst of a 'me generation' in which students do not believe their individual votes matter, Phillips said. MANY STUDENTS either re- gister to vote at their permanent addresses or ignore city elections al- together. "I don't know much about what's going on in Ann Arbor with all that local stuff," said engineering senior Glen Moore. "I live in Ster- ling Heights; that's where I vote." But representatives of the Ann Arbor City Council and other city services say the most valuable stu- dent contributions to the city come from political involvement other than casting ballots. "There has never been a lack of willingness of students to get in- volved in politics. Students give more of a commitment than most people do," said Dave DeVarti, a former Democratic city council- member who benefitted from student support. STUDENTS play a greater role in city politics by working with city organizations - such as the Shelter Association of Ann Arbor,which operates a shelter for the homeless, or the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, which takes an active part in recy- cling - than by casting a ballot, DeVarti said. Less than seven percent of regis- tered voters in the heavily-populated student precincts voted in last April's general city election - a low figure compared to other precincts, but higher than in past city elections. City officials attributed the in- crease to the proposed rent control ordinance, which would have limited rent increases in Ann Arbor to a base rate of 75 percent of the rate of inflation, contingent on factors such as utility and property tax increases. Supporters of the ordinance - t VOt4 voted out of office by about 200 votes in the last election said, "It's unfortunate that students didn't play a more active role last April." Hirshorn said the off-campus crime commission he organized last year - comprised of students and community members - was one of the most successful groups he has Elections QiQI Mayoral and council elections are 1988.89 Election Dates partisan contests fought, for the most part, between Democrats and Re- november publicans. 8 Democrats are more likely to National look at human services as city re- Presidential sponsibilities and to view the city as Tue s day Election a model employer february Republicans emphasize thef r y city's role as a provider ofbasic serv- ices such as police, roads, and water. Ann Arbor City Primary Elections Monday Registration Registration must take place 30 days april prior to an election. Registration, or 3 a list of r6gistration sites, may be ob- tained from the city clerk's office. No Ann Arbor identification or declaration of party Monday City General affiliation is necessary. Mna Elections low cratic councilmember who was ever worked with. COUNCILMEMBER Terry Martin (R-2nd Ward), said there hasn't been much student involve- ment in her campaigns. Martin said voting is an important way to con- tribute to the "general philosophy of the system," but said all students should be familiar with the issues and candidates before casting a bal- lot. DeVarti said that not only do city policies affect students, but student participation is a "development pro- cess" that goes hand-in-hand with a student's education at the Un- iversity. Tara Ward, staff coordinator of the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor and a School of Natural Resources graduate, said many of her volunteers are University graduate students and seniors. "After someone has been involved on campus for a year or two, they tend to look beyond the campus and try to aid the entire community." KATHY ZICK, director of the Shelter Association of Ann Arbor, praised those students who have be- come more deeply committed to city politics by aiding the homeless. Last year, students worked with commu- nity members to organize the Homeless Action Committee, an ac- tivist group that helped establish a See Voting, Page 4 p - mm - - - m om thbe I 1 1 ALL DINNERS IN ' OUR DINING ROOM *Major Credit CordsAccepted *Not valid with and other, coupons or discounts 625 HILTON BLVD. off State Street 747-9500 M Exp. 11-30-88 MD L=m==mmm== which failed by a two-to-one margin - hoped to gain support from stu- dents living in off-campus housing. Although the actual number of stu- dents who voted in the April elec- tions is not known, the percentage indicates a majority of students did not. LIZ ECHT, an LSA junior from East Lansing, decided to register here in order to vote on the rent ZINN/Daily Graphic control proposal. "The landlords in Ann Arbor abuse the money they receive," she said. "There is no rea- son that rents should be raised when they are already outrageous." Members of the Ann Arbor City Council said if the entire student body had voted in the April elec- tions, the outcome of each race might have been different. Seth Hirshorn, a former Demo- Cornerstone CHRISTIAN CHURCH (a non-denominational church) Sunday Worship Service 10 A.M. at Angell Elementary School (1 block east of Washtenaw on South University). Pastor Mike Caulk 971-9150 People Dedicated to Knowing and Communicating Jesus Christ! h fii3EiV ST. V VIIDO 120 Liberty St. Ann Arbor, MI 663-3121 F * * VCR Rentals NO MEMBERSHIP FEES NO DEPOSITS 9 1. * d©UTQaq QOQQ ]D 4 fl(1 i1 2t flnn I I