Yale activist reflects on getting out the vote

When I agreed to help register Yalies to vote, I hardly expected that I would have to debate the merits of the electoral process and of voting itself. It seemed like a given that everyone I encountered would want to register—at least in their own states—or would have already registered to vote. I was wrong. Of course, there were many students who eagerly registered to vote. But the skepticism shared by some of the people I met surprised me. Perhaps part of their reluctance was a product of being new to New Haven. But even worse than being uncomfortable with thinking of themselves as New Haven residents, these students professed feelings of apathy and disgust with the electoral process and political system. These two factors seriously hurt student participation in the electoral process. Their persistence among Yalies cannot be ignored. The people who hold these views must realize that their reasons are escapist and ill-considered.

Yalies have every right to vote in New Haven because we are legal residents of the city. The reluctance some Yalies to see themselves as part of New Haven is based partly on a very real—and very regrettable—phenomenon: many students spend four years in New Haven and never see the city, let alone become acquainted with it. How can a Yalie feel like a resident of a city that she barely knows? There are two answers to this question. The first addresses the question of voting only tangentially, but I'll throw it in anyway: start with a walk. Go explore New Haven beyond Chapel Street. Second, realize that you are more a resident of New Haven than you might think. To use a trivial example, the police who break up Yale parties are enforcing New Haven regulations; New Haven cops are as likely as Yale cops to break up off-campus events. More importantly, when zoning decisions are made regarding a downtown nightclub, it's very easy for older people to shut down the deal. The 18-to-25-year-old population that lives downtown (yes, that's us) is unaware that these decisions are even being made, and in many cases seems not to care. But maybe we should. Don't these decisions affect us?

Furthermore, anyone stuck in the mindset that Yale is a parasitical demon that doesn't pay taxes and gives nothing back is living in a fantasy land. The relationship between Yale and New Haven is complicated and historically troubled, but Yale has been a central component of New Haven's revitalization over the past six years. Even though there remains tension between the University and city residents, by ignoring rather than engaging the city we turn our backs on so much recent progress. And despite what many New Havenites may choose to think, Yalies can have a positive effect on the city—registering to vote here is one of them.

Blatant apathy and disgust, the second obstacle preventing students from voting, is harder to surmount. I share much of their disgust for this year's presidential candidates. But I am eager to vote. Though there may seem to be no substantive difference between the rhetoric of George W. Bush, DC '68, and Al Gore, it is hard to argue that there is no difference in terms of policy. They differ loudly and sharply on issues such as health care, social security, and women's and gay rights. By shunning the whole electoral process because the candidates are shamelessly pandering to the swing states, talking about issues that are hard to understand, boring and perhaps will not effect us for awhile, we are allowing them to set the agenda. As responsible citizens, we have the obligation to vote. And if we care about the future of this city and of this country, we must fulfill this duty.

Becky Silber is a senior in Silliman.

Photo of New Haven aldermanic chamber by David Gest.

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