Lack of ambition in Interhall election astonishing
In recent weeks, we the Orbis staff have been working with determination to try and make changes to improve our publication. We hope you will enjoy the transitioning our paper undergoes as we try to tailor Orbis best to Vanderbilt's campus. In this issue, for example, look out for our "Eye on Obama" and our "Special Report on Drug Culture at Vanderbilt." The continuing desire to upgrade our content is a result of our wonderful staff, which is chock full of motivated students filled with new ideas of where to take the paper.
On another note, I was shocked to read recently in The Hustler that Kyle Southern is running for Interhall President unopposed. Perhaps it is the fact that I am surrounded by so many people active in various campus activities. Where are the people who in high school held two jobs, ran two organizations, and still pulled off the 4.0 GPA? Where are the National Honor Society presidents, the publication editors, the bag pipers and the pilots? Does everyone get accepted to Vanderbilt, exhale a sigh of relief and then suddenly become a couch potato? Has apathy (gulp) reared its ugly head again?
I find it hard to believe that among all the talented Interhall participants there isn't a single one who disagrees in any way with the viewpoints of Kyle Southern. Beyond disagreement, I can't believe that no one else aspires to be President. That is one thing we joked around about when I worked on the Hill in DC this past summer. Everyone wants to be President, whether they admit it or not. Where is that same ambition in Interhall?
When I helped Steve McGuire run his campaign for Interhall president last year, we shared very few platform items in common with Austen Heim. True, everyone is for safety, but how is that candidate going to implement safety measures in our residence halls? I am not trying to speak out against Southern; however, I would like to see a more democratic and competitive election where people have the option to vote for a person who best represents their ideals. Do people think it is just too much work to run a campaign? It's not impossible. Plenty of people do it every year and win. Therefore, I hope that someone reads this message, takes some initiative, and tries to be a winning write-in candidate for Interhall president.