It’s that time of year again.

Time to elect a brand-new GSB president.

On Monday, Feb. 16, Iowa State students will vote for the 1998-99 GSB president.

ISU students have been heavily criticized lately for not caring about political issues and not taking advantage of the cherished right to vote.

It’s time for students at ISU to show that they do, in fact, care about the university they attend.

It’s time for students all over campus to prove wrong the voices crying “Student apathy!”

It’s time for students to make a choice that will significantly affect them in the next year.

The person who will be in charge of the Government of the Student Body has many obligations to us as students. He or she is responsible for fighting for our rights — our tuition increases, our Veishea celebrations, our say in everything that happens on campus.

Without a capable person in that role, our voices as students will not be heard.

So doesn’t it stand to reason that you would want a say in who speaks for you?

Three slates are running for GSB president and vice-president. They are:

• John Hamilton, senior in marketing and transportation & logistics, and Amy Robertson, junior in exercise and sports science.

• Bryan Burkhardt, sophomore in computer engineering, and Jamal White, junior in metallurgical engineering.

• Chris Wisher, junior in finance, and Jen Johnson, junior in elementary education.

Hamilton/Robertson and Burkhardt/White are on the ballet, and Wisher/Johnson are running as write-in candidates.

If you want more information about where the candidates stand on specific issues, you can go to the presidential and vice-presidential debates.

The presidential debate between Hamilton, Burkhardt and Wisher is today at 12:00 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The vice-presidential debate between Robertson, White and Johnson is at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow in the Campanile Room of the Union.

On Friday at 12:00 p.m., the full slates will debate in the Pioneer Room.

There’s no reason for students to not be a part of the election process this spring. All of the information you could want about each candidate is available to you. Use it to make a choice, and then make your choice known.

It’s your right, and your responsibility.