Some of the students have said to abolish it. The paper has said it should make students less apathetic. And others, as the Letters to the Editor so graciously commented, just do not care. Such is the life of the ISU Government of the Student Body and the problems for all those who serve on it. Low voter turnout, lack of understanding of tasks and widespread criticism is what the few select students of GSB look forward to every year.

But I wonder, should we abolish the United States government as well? It also takes heat for the amount of apathy galloping gallantly across the frayed edges of our red, white and blue emblem. Why should we keep a government run by representatives when half the country does not bother to even vote for the head of the nation? I mean, if GSB should be removed because of student apathy, why not just throw out the seemingly useless U.S. Constitution as well?

I’ll tell you why. We believe in democracy. As a country we stand for fairness and equality, equal justice under law. Our principles dictate that we deserve the chance to change and adapt our government through elections and involvement. Our Constitution guarantees us the right to speak out against our government and take up arms against it if need be.

I certainly do not foresee a need to pull out our rifles when dealing with GSB, but I hope you do see what I am getting at. For those of us paying attention, we know GSB at times works very diligently to represent us. We point fingers at them, barking that they are not doing their jobs, that our tuition is still increasing, and the quality of education at the university is going down. We point our accusing fingers in frustration claiming it is GSB’s fault that students are indifferent and do not care what our students reps are discussing. But note as you point that one finger, the rest are pointing back at yourself.

It is, of course, not just you who is to blame and not just GSB either. Point a finger at your roommate if they chose not to vote in the elections in March, point at a friend who does not know what the letters in GSB stand for, and even point them at this periodical for displaying negative views on our student government. Your fingers now are pointing everywhere. Now you can see that this whole campus is guilty of perpetuating the problems plaguing our higher education. We are all charged with mutiny against our own visions about democracy and representative government. In most cases, it is only GSB who is lobbying to save us from tyrants such as the Board of Regents, who wants to do nothing but pick our pockets for more money.

No one has denied that GSB has not had much luck lowering our tuition or keeping it from raising every year. Student voices are often ignored on monetary issues, but at least they are trying. I admit I have personally done nothing to help stop the limitless tuition increases from happening.

Like GSB and other students, my feelings about where my hard-earned dollars go will be ignored by the authoritarian hand of the Board of Regents. Sure, I might write a column about it, but that is not going to accomplish anything. Yet to be honest with you, that would never stop me from trying. And GSB has taken the same stance, still endeavoring to fight the Board of Regents in a battle that resembles David vs. Goliath. Every year they fight for us, even if it is to no avail.

GSB also attempts to focus on issues they can affect. Next year’s president and vice-president, T.J. Schneider and Joe Darr, ran on issues such as expanding Moonlight Express hours, as well as making teachers more accountable for their curriculum. These are to help the students. One is for our safety. The other is to attempt to guarantee that this college is worth the money we know the Board of Regents is going to strip from us.

The GSB may be an organization that only about 75 students get involved with but is in reality an organization we are all a part of. We, the students of Iowa State, must support our student government in order to preserve our fundamental rights and our freedom from oppression by forces beyond our campus.

If you feel the GSB is not doing their job then vote for someone who will. Run yourself if you think you can make the difference. A government of one is pointless and ineffective. A government of 20,000, however, can push barriers and rock the boat.

Stop pointing fingers and stop preaching about apathy. We may have the right to criticize but we also have the right to revolutionize. Do not bother doing one if you are not prepared to do the other.

Ayrel Clark is a freshman in pre-journalism and mass communication from Johnston.