Dennis Gosnell
Assistant Editor
A training ground for democracy
Picture caption: Being involved in student government is one way to get your voice heard and be active in decision-making.
Community involvement is a vital and crucial part of the democratic system. Without it people would be under-represented in congressional halls. Yet, people rarely take the time to get involved and speak up for their communities when given the chance.
“It is really important to get involved because it is participation in democracy. The more people participate and get involved in the democracy the richer it will be.
“Being involved also helps citizens to act as watchdogs, which works toward ensuring democracy stays true to its values. If officials in our democracy do not hear from us, they will end up listening to people with money,” Dr. John Wood, professor of political science said.
Every year the students on campus work toward being an active part of not only the Rose community but also of the city and state community. Student Senate members donate their time to projects like Habitat for Humanity and the V.O.I.C.E./O.I.L. club participates in voter registration contests during an election year. In 2008, Rose State won the medium school division award with 600 voter registrations, and won in 2010, with 500 voter registrations. Last years Club of the Year recipients, Hispanic Student Association, worked around the college and local community to show their dedication to being an active participant in civic service.
Getting out and getting involved shows more than being an active upright civic citizen, it also shows that the community is alive and prospering. Without people to stand up and say, “my voice will be heard,” communities may fall apart and vanish.
“The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato
Read, write, and participate in the community and democracy that was hard earned, so that each American may live a life of freedom. It is the responsibility to each citizen to maintain and make vocal their needs, wants, and critiques to elected leaders, so that they stay virtuous to their position.
If we, as citizens, should fail, it will be our fault that our own freedoms were stripped from us.
