Record turnout in the Nov. 6 Iowa City election proves college students aren’t always apathetic – at least when it comes to their booze. An Iowa City ballot measure to increase the bar-entry age to 21 was defeated by more than 2,000 votes with the help of a few campus activists and thousands of dollars in funding from downtown bars.

University of Iowa students recognized a threat to their lifestyle at the hands of older, more permanent residents. They understood they should have a say in a town in which they plan on spending at least four years as residents.

Iowa City’s demographics closely mirror those of Ames, with nearly half the population comprising students. Yet Ames’ recent city election brought few votes from students – eight from the Maple-Willow-Larch precinct – while 63 percent of early voters in Iowa City were between the ages of 18 and 24. According to a Daily staff report, only 404 students voted in the 2005 City Council election.

Sure, the proposed 21-ordinance in Iowa City would have had a direct impact on students, whereas Ames’ recent election was a general vote for certain City Council positions. What you, Iowa State, don’t realize is the effect the City Council has on your life.

Plenty of anti-student ordinances and practices permeate Ames. An ordinance preventing more than three unrelated persons in a single-family household keeps students from minimizing the cost of housing. Students’ rights to do what they wish with their property – rented or owned – apparently stop at putting a comfortable indoor couch on their porch without a fine.

Recently, an ISU student was cited for parking in a handicapped spot in the parking lot of a privately owned apartment complex with no handicapped residents, piquing the concern of this columnist. According to Ames Police Chief Chuck Cychosz, Ames Parking Division was conducting a “routine patrol,” because of criticism “in past years for not providing enforcement in private parking lots.” In other words, the city of Ames had no specific cause to violate the right of privacy held by scores of ISU students living at that location. You see, the Fourth Amendment is only an immunity for mature adults who live in single-family homes (provided they are related), according to the Iowa Supreme Court (see state of Iowa v. Booth), and the city of Ames is delighted to push its authority to its outer limits simply because it can get away with it.

More than two years ago, a proposal was born in the chambers of the Ames City Council. It was instead passed as a countywide ordinance, and became a catalyst for an Iowa statute. Because of it, you no longer have the right to purchase a keg without Big Brother in the loop.

Alternate-side parking in student-heavy neighborhoods generates plenty of revenue for the city of Ames. Student parking fines allow more permanent Ames residents the wiggle room to splurge on elaborate, unnecessary water parks those students will only be able to enjoy if they can stand to live in this city after they graduate. That particular project is financed by another source – property taxes – but all the money coming from parking tickets paying their other expenses makes it easier to justify – not to mention your rent will go up because of it. No matter how they sell it, they’re getting their suburban pet-project mega-dream at your expense.

Iowa State, these issues are a lot more important than an ordinance that prevents underage students from partaking in bar life – although Ames has that ordinance too. If you thought you couldn’t possibly make an impact, the Hawkeyes just proved you wrong. It’s time to vote these abusive clowns out of office. It’s long past time to show the city of Ames it owes a huge part of its flourishing environment to ISU students, but it’ll take a lot more than five votes. After all, you don’t want the Hawks to win, do you?

&#8212 Aaron Gott is a senior in political science from South Amana.