4A - Monday, November 8, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com E-MAIL SIMONAT SIMKAL JUMICH.EDI Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu SIMON BORST OBAM LEEDEMS 1 U JACOB SMILOVITZ EDITOR IN CHIEF RACHEL VAN GILDER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MATT AARONSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Turn up the turnout No matter the election, students should vote ast Tuesday, when Americans headed to the polls, one demographic was visibly absent. Only about 20 percent of people under the age of 30 voted in the Nov. 2 midterm election, according to a Nov. 4 Daily article. While midterm elec- tions usually post lower turnout than presidential elections, these numbers are distressingly low, especially considering the govern- mental change that resulted from this election and the impact that change will have on students. With important issues and positions on the ballot, it's imperative that students show up at the polls for each and every election. The upside to distance In Ann Arbor, only about 21 percent of voters in areas that house large numbers of students turned out for Tuesday's election, according to the Daily article. In 2008, 55 percent of people tinder the age of 30 voted nationwide. Student-filled districts in Ann Arbor posted a slightly lower rate of 45 percent. The 2006 midterm election saw a 23-percent turnout among young people nationwide - three percent higher than national turnout this year. Democracy only works when citizens voice their opinions and concerns by vot- ing. votes hold elected officials account- able for their actions: When they fail to accurately represent their constituents, voters can remove them from office. But if students choose not to cast a ballot, elect- ed officials have no incentive to represent their interests. And if only 20 percent of young people vote in an election, govern- ment officials remain uninterested in pushing for causes like increased funding for higher education. This election in particular was a big opportunity for students to make their voices heard, even though it didn't focus on an individual quite as charismatic as President Barack Obama. Michigan elect- ed a new governor and Republicans took the U.S. House of Representatives and both houses of the Michigan legislature. The two incumbent University regents up for re-election - both of whom have done little in their terms to stop tuition increas- es - remain in office. Without student votes to hold these officials accountable for their decisions, they will continue to ignore what students need and want. All elections are important. Issues addressed at all levels of government will ilways affect students' lives. From the governor's stance on the Michigan Prom- ise Scholarship and to Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje's plans for the proposed Full- er Road Transportation Center, students feel the impact of governmental decisions in their everyday lives. And the onus is on students to make sure their opinion is being heard. There are a lot of excuses for why stu- dents don't vote - they don't know about the issues, don't know where to vote or haven't bothered to register, don't have the time to vote between classes, etc. But students have to overcome apathy to affect change. Regardless of the hassle of going to the polls or sending in an absentee ballot, students need to take the time to educate themselves about candidates and issues and vote. Voting isn't just a right: it's also a respon- sibility. And until students step up, their interests won't be adequately represented. 'm in a long-distance relation- ship - and I'm happy with it. Now, before the three of you that read this col- umn start flood- ing my inbox with sympathies and slurs, allow me to explain. If there's one thing those of us at the University find more stupid than midterms MELANIE and Michigan State students, it's KRUVELIS long-distance rela- tionships. Upper- classmen, with their worldly wisdom and higher alcohol tolerance, scoff at freshman who are still caught up in high school relationships. The criti- cisms are familiar: "You're too afraid to move on. Train tickets are expen- sive. Eventually someone's going to want to get laid." And I understand the objections. Maintaining a relationship in a com- pletely new town is already difficult enough. Factor in a few extra hun- dred miles and suddenly things can become overwhelming. Overwhelming, however, doesn't mean impossible. Once I got used to the idea of being drooled on by tooth- less men on my bus rides between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, I started to realize that long-distance relation- ships may be not be as abhorrent as those sagely upperclassmen think. An immediate benefit of being far away from your significant other is that you are, in fact, far away from your significant other. There seems to be this perception that a long- distance relationship means hours huddled up in your dorm room, blab- bering about the bagel you had for breakfast and the difficulties in pick- ing out aschmear. Truth be told, dear readers, this constant state of incoherent and annoying chatter is merely a miscon- ception. The beauty of long-distance love is that you really don't need to spend time with your significant other. I don't have to spend my time going on awkward morning-after dates at Wendy's in the Union, or devote hours to cuddling and draw- ing hearts all over my boyfriend's econ notes. Instead, I get to do what I cherish most - eat and watch TV. "But what about those dirty primal instincts?" the dissenter will argue. "Eventually those will kick in." Per- saps it'll be the back issues of Cosmo- politan msagazine, or maybe the latest episode of "Degrassi" - whatever it may be, something will jumpstart the old sex drive. And unless you're will- ing to cheat or heed Cosmo's advice and partake in some bizarre activi- ties that make me fairly uncomfort- able, you're screwed (or not so much, depending on your interpretation of the word). However, most of us really don't travel via covered wagon these days. it's not that hard to get from point A to point B when those, uh, needs kick in. You know that old phrase, "dis- tance makes the heart grow fonder"? I don't know about all that, but there is sufficient evidence that distance does make the nooky better and less dramatic. Long-distancers never have those awkward mornings where you somehow wake up in a floor-mate's bed. We never have to suffer through the walk of shame, heading to class in an oversized t-shirt and a pair of too- large basketball shorts. Simply put, you never have to start a story with, "Last night was such a mistake - he was an OSU fan!" Your relationship becomes a routine of sharing only the most important details of your day, followed by weekend whoopee. And 'for someone as emotionally calloused asI am, it really doesn'tget any better. Furthermore, there's an aspect even dirtier than sex that makes long-distance a dream: my hygiene habits. I've seen girls who not only leave for their 9 a.m. class on time, but actually get up early to gussy up for it. Long-distancers, besides the few with "self-respect" or whatever, really don't feel the same need to look cute for lecture. If you aren't looking to shack up or, you know, start a rela- tionship, there really isn't a reason to get all fussy and gussy. Long-distance relationships have advantages. Instead, I get the extreme pleasure of rolling out of bed wearing what I wore the last three days while sport- ing a hairdo that puts Alfalfa from "The Little Rascals" to shame. Do I care that my sweatshirt is covered in pudding stains? Of course not. Am I embarrassed when I enter my philosophy discussion wearing my headgear? Not at all. I take pride in my ability to look completely unat- tractive during the school week. It's feminism. Well, it's lazy feminism. Actually, it might not be feminism at all. Regardless, it makes it a whole lot easier to feel less guilty when I don't brush my hair for days on end. So yes, I am in a long-distance rela- tionship. And you know what? I do see it outlasting Thanksgiving break, thank you very much, for two main reasons: First, I truly care about my boyfriend. Second - and perhaps most importantly - after this column runs, it's highly unlikely that anyone will ever ask me out again. - Melanie Kruvelis can be reached at melkruv@umich.edu. I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be fewer than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Aida Ali, Jordan Birnholtz, Will Butler, Eaghan Davis, Michelle DeWitt, Ashley Griesshammer, Will Grundler, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Harsha Nahata, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Tommaso Pavone, Leah Potkin, Roger Sauerhaft, Asa Smith, Laura Veith STEPHEN PHILP I Lend a hand to FIMRC All in for Michigan It has been several weeks since the celebra- tion of University's 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps. But with all the excitement about President John F. Kennedy's historic visit dying down, it's important not to lose sight of the essence of his address on the steps of the Union: service to humanity. The Foundation for the International Medi- cal Relief of Children is a national organization helping to answer that call for global service. FIMRC was started in 2002 to address the health disparities found in many countries, paying particular attention to the plight of underserved pediatric groups. The foundation operates through clinic sites to provide high- quality medical care and preventative educa- tion to those who don't have access to health care. At the clinic sites, children often come in malnourished or with pneumonia. First, the doctor needs to prescribe medication to imme- diately treat the problem. But often, the prob- lem is due to poor hygiene or parasites and the patient and the family need to be educated on how to prevent the problem from occurring in the future. Since its inception, this national organiza- tion has started self-sustaining clinics around the world and now has over 3,000 staff and volunteers who help carry out their dream of improving the health of children in impover- ished situations all around the world. But what makes FIMRC unique is the impor- tance of its many college chapters. It's primar- ily through the fundraising efforts, of college chapters that the clinic sites around the world stay open all year. Something service organizations - like ours - are often asked is, "Why does FIMRC bother going abroad? Why don't you focus on help- ing U.S. citizens in need?" Some people may think that we need to honor our duty to our own country before helping people overseas. But I believe if we accept arguments like this, we will be valuing the lives of Americans over those around the world - and that is undesir- able. The value of a person's life is the same, no matter where they were born. But we don't believe in neglecting our com- munity. FIMRC strongly believes in having a large local impact. As one of the volunteering chairs, I can certainly say this is true, since my role in FIMRC is to find opportunities for FIMRC members to help reach out to the local Ann Arbor community. We hold a variety of events from volunteering at elderly homes and serving at soup kitchens to hosting theme par- ties for kids at Mott Children's Hospital. So how can students get involved in service projects here and abroad? FIMRC gives stu- dents the ability to help out in several ways. We'll help find opportunities for students who join FIMRC to serve in your local community in a variety of ways. Another hands-on way to get involved is to travel to one of the clinic sites and volunteer. I went for a week to Costa Rica to visit the clinic site this past summer. When you are at the clinic, you can see the health problems that underserved populations experience and some of the political and socio-economic reasons for those problems. The impact on your life will hopefully be profound. Once you come back from a mission trip, you will be more willing to educate others about what you have seen and have a greater passion for fundraising for the clinics based off your firsthand experiences. The final way to help out with service proj- ects is to go to some of the fundraising events FIMRC holds. We will be holding our largest fundraiser of the school year, the annual Ben- efit Dinner, on Nov. 11 in the Psych Atrium in East Hall. Restaurants from all over Ann Arbor donate food to the event for students and the community to enjoy. There will also be items up for auction at the event. The admission ticket for the dinner will get you as much food as you can fit onto one plate and, more impor- tantly, it will go directly to improving the lives of children around the world. As students we need to do everything we can to help promote a spirit of volunteerism and service. In the end, it's not a matter of which organization you choose to work with, but rather the motivation and passion with which we work. I hope we don't simply reminisce about the great service deeds done by Univer- sity students in the past, but rather use that legacy to propel us to do greater acts of service in our community and around the world. Stephen Philip is the volunteering co-chair of FIMRC. 've had a Michigan State Spartans baseball cap forseveral years now. Past a blur of maize and blue hats and shirts, it lies somewhere in the back of my closet and rarely do I even get a glimpse of it, let alone wear it. But I bought it, and I'm proud to own itA because the Spar- tans have always been my second IMRAN favorite college team. SYED I could try to explain that odd- ity - why a kid who grew up a stone's throw from Ann Arbor, who first had season tick- ets for Michigan football in the days of Tom Brady and Tai Streets, and who attended this great university for undergraduate and law degrees would ever have anything but pure, irrepressible disdain for the Spartans. I could try to explain it, but it's some- thing the average student on this cam- pus wouldn't understand. But I think I can explain to those of you who grew up in Michigan and stayed here through the apocalypse. Here in what's left of Michigan, we love our own. It's hard to explain that feeling. How exactly do you explain a feeling? It's the feeling I had when I drove to East Lansing on Friday, Oct. 29. The date doesn't particularly matter, except that it was the day before the Spartan football team lost for the first time this season, and just four days before the election. You'll understand why that mattered in a second. I hadn't been to the campus of that other Michigan school in nearly 15 years. Many high school friends attended MSU, and I've driven by that exit on the way to Lansing, Grand Rapids or Lake Michigan countless times, but never had the need to go there. A couple of weeks ago, how- ever, law school business pushed me finally into East Lansing. A simple college town, imore rural and less matured than Ann Arbor, East Lansing is home to the eighth largest university campus in the country - but it's not much to see. That day, however, the way I spoke of it, it may as well have been the eighth wonder of the world. There was a reason why I madly sputtered praises in the car that day for everything having to do with that university, that city, that region and its people: I wasn't driving alone. With me was a fellow law student - an out- of-stater, a West-Coast-to-East-Coast transplant - with little knowledge or interest in what a silly old "fly- over state" like Michigan has to offer. Naturally, my instincts as a protective Michigander were highly activated. Michigan may have suffered a fright- eningly unprecedented socio-econom- ic siege in recent decades, but I'll be damned if I can't say enough good to efface that monumental bad. Suddenly Tom Izzo (head basket- ball coach of the Spartans) wasn't a hated rival, but instead, the great- est basketball mind to ever grace the Earth. Geoffrey Fieger (infamous trial lawyer and alumnus of what later became MSU's law school) was no longer a self-aggrandizing sleaze, but instead, the greatest champion for the poor and oppressed that the legal world had ever seen. And my proud account of MSU's reputation as a top-notch party school cer- tainly didn't stop that day to mock- ingly mention the instances of sexual assault and rioting on campus after sporting events. (Hell, I barely stopped short of bragging that good old Wallace Jeffer- son himself was once a Spartan. Oh, yes you have heard of him - the first ever black chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court - totally a huge deal.) My friend in the car couldn't have cared less, but that doesn't matter. My experience that day is what Michi- ganders feel everyday - the immense urge to fight back against the national decrial of what this state should be and isn't with a louder pronouncement of everything Michigan is and can be despite the odds. We still believe that we can rise again, and we take pride in every little success. 1 The Spartans are also part of my Michigan. 4 That's why the tears welled up the next day when I watched the Iowa Hawkeyes obliterate the Spar- tans' hopes of a prestigious football national championship. That's also why, four days later, I cheered when Michigan voters boldly embraced Republican governor-elect Rick Snyder, a maverick who promises to break the status quo and help Michi- gan finally get moving again. It may be optimism, or it may be blind folly: But we were stand- ing once, and we are ready to get up again. We'll have new stories of greatness soon, but until then, we'll cherish all the old ones. r i - Irran Syed can be reached at galad@umich.edu. -the podium I 1 Blogging Blue: Following the Republicans' seizure of the U.S. House, Will Butler notes that though Democrats' pain is brief, their glory is forever. Go to michigandaily.com/blogs/The Podium.