May 13, 2008
Get out and vote
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The May 6 election is important to the maintenance of good order and discipline in our neighborhoods because a newly energized force has surfaced in our community.
The William & Mary student government last year launched an aggressive campaign to recruit students to register and vote in city elections. This action is commendable. However, it seems that the goal, according to the Flat Hat and the recent candidate debate at the college, is to gain a seat on City Council in order to influence changing the city’s three-person rental rule, as well as modifying the city’s noise ordinance. While the city and the college have an outstanding working relationship, such an effort on the student government’s part can easily endanger the good order of that relationship if the city codes are changed.
The Student Assembly established a fund of $15,000 to reward any student who successfully recruited other students to register to vote at $10 per person. To date, it appears that they have more than 1,200 students registered. Again, their campaign’s ostensible motive is aimed not only at encouraging students to vote, but also at getting students to vote to defeat the rental rule and the noise ordinance.
The student candidate for City Council was part of that government and is quoted in the Flat Hat as saying, “with 1,500 votes we can do anything we want in the city.” Such rhetoric, if put into action, only endangers the good order and cooperation between the city and the college.
City residents openly acknowledge that students should be able to vote in the city. But it is inconceivable that the student vote might primarily be used as a means to take over and change city codes to suit their wishes.
Robert A. “Tex” Turner
Indian Springs Road
Williamsburg
Copyright © 2008, The Virginia Gazette
