At a time when the last thing some people want to hear about is politics it is refreshing sometimes when a politician tries to get attention through more fun and inventive ways.

The recent visit of the Natural Law Party candidate Jay Marcus was a good example of this.

On Tuesday, Marcus arrived on campus to meet with students at Beta Theta Pi fraternity for a free throw contest. During the time he would answer questions and give away free “Marcus for Congress” t-shirts to those who beat him in the contest.

Afterward he would address the students on political issues.

Another creative way Marcus has gotten his name out is advertising via personal ads in Iowa newspapers:

“MWM w/2 kds seeks lng trm frnshp w/ re4rmrs, votes. No PACs. No spcl intrsts. Pro env. Pro alt enrgy. Pd for by Marcus for Congress.”

Unfortunately, members of the fraternity and a majority of the rest of the student body were at Yell Like Hell or participating in other activities. No one showed up to see Marcus or play a little game of basketball.

Well, Sigma Pi fraternity member Herb Sawyer was there. Would one consider this an intense game of basketball or a poor reflection of current student interests?

The Daily didn’t even send a reporter to meet with Marcus, he was only greeted by a photographer.

What does this say about how we as members of this university feel about candidates or politics or even basketball?

It’s a rather pathetic display of the intellectual or political character we as students possess, to say the least.

One doesn’t see Dole, Clinton, Perot, Gingrich and other candidates in their backyard interested in a game of catch or shooting the proverbial sh-t with us. Why not take advantage of that situation when it becomes available?

Who knows? We may actually learn something about us, or them, or even a little about our world.