I must admit my clear bias in this one, being both Drew Miller’s friend and roommate. But one thing is clear; he is the right person for the job. I met Drew when mutual friends of ours ran for this office last year. We were reading the Daily article about all the Senate seats no one was running for in last year’s Government of the Student Body elections.

Drew looked up and said, “Why don’t we run a write-in campaign?” As a result, he and eight other new students were elected to GSB.

And now they are among the most active leaders in the GSB Senate, having been neither silent nor ineffectual on any issue.

Drew hasn’t promised anyone he would lower tuition, although if given a chance, his plan, even if only marginally successful, would result in tens of millions more in appropriations to the regent universities.

Fortunately for my roommate, he is no one-trick pony. He looks forward to working the entire range of issues that come before the students, both popular and unpopular: health insurance, tailgating, Cuffs, clean energy, student activism and organizing education funding

The tragedy is, all of our problems emanate from students not having the political power we need to influence policy to our satisfaction. Only voters and donors have that kind of influence.

So, unless you want to take what little money you have left after paying higher tuition, housing, food, books, fees, gas, insurance, etc., to some politician who doesn’t really need it, you probably need to be an active, registered voter.

As students and voters, the Legislature will think long and hard before choosing not to increase funding to education at all levels.

When we, as students, have the power to influence public policy as a matter of electoral influence, we will be able to get what we want from the Legislature, the governor and the Ames City Council. This precludes the ISU administration.

When we have political power, they will then become our partners in the process, as we will be able to influence public policy in regards to education funding in ways they can only advocate for now.

Drew is excited about the prospect of working with the New Voter Project and Campus Compact, Rock the Vote, Choose or Lose and any group here and willing to help students.

He is dignified enough to be tactful and diplomatic, but always an assertive representative of the students. He is fair, open-minded, and he just plain cares about this university.

Give him an opportunity to serve you; I promise you he won’t disappoint.

Shawn Carter

Alumnus

Ames