I have often joked that if I proposed the construction of a 100-story high-rise in the middle of campus, GSB would compromise by allowing me to build a 75-story building. Although there is a near consensus among young adults that keg registration is a solution doomed to failure, the students at the helm of GSB role-model say they are powerless to change anything.

I see Drew Larson’s quote as a classic example of learned helplessness: “This is so we can clarify our position, so we can be more effective on influencing decisions by Board of Supervisors. When I explained to students what our stance was, I told them [keg registration] would probably pass either way.” I know Larson to be a healthy, strapping, opinionated young man, but even he sounds beaten.

Is it any wonder that GSB engages in this type of negative role-modeling? They are just emulating the behaviors of our older, traditional leaders. An excellent example of this antiquated approach is mayor candidate Ann Campbell.

At a meeting on Oct. 3 with George Belitsos and the Story County supervisors present, the Ames Tribune quoted Campbell as saying, “I am in no position to tell the [Story County] Supervisors what they should do. As a citizen, I do not see that [keg registration] carries with it the harm, if you will, that I’ve heard some express concern about. Neither do I think, nor have I heard, the advocates indicate that it’s the be-all and end-all to sober up Story County.” Can our leaders’ role-modeling be anymore wishy-washy, passive and non-committal?

For a year and a half since the Veishea riot occurred, I have been engaging Iowa State, Ames, Story County and the Iowa Statehouse in a stern debate about the negative ways in which they adversely impact our young adults. Ethan Newlin’s Oct. 20 column doesn’t go far enough when he says, “So for all of those griping about student apathy – (which is vague, anyway. Apathetic about what: politics, religion, school, civic duty, morals, sports?) — get off our backs.

We’re just participating in a system that you helped create.” It is my contention that our leaders only give lip service to wanting students to be more active. In actuality, our leaders’ actions speak much more loudly in the form of policies, rules, ordinances and laws which negatively impact young adults. The net result is that university students are continually condescended to and are treated like veritable gypsies.

Iowa State has an event for Homecoming called “Yell-like -Hell.” I think GSB should adopt this same motto and go before the Story County Supervisors at next Tuesday’s regular meeting and speak about their objections to keg registration.

I am calling upon readers of this letter to more openly engage in making your objections heard by sending e-mails to the people in charge. Please avoid making it personal. Instead, tell them exactly what you are thinking or how you feel about the issue. The other critically important action young adults can take to reverse the trend of being treated like second-class citizens is to register and vote in Ames. There are excellent resources to familiarize yourselves with the candidates at: www.iowastatedaily.com, www.amestrib.com, www.chamber.ames.ia.us, www.storycounty.com and www.google.com.

Jon Shelness

Mayoral candidate