Shake political apathy, vote

Political apathy among young people is a stereotype that college students just can’t seem to shake.

But that doesn’t mean students shouldn’t get involved.

In an election year, students have no excuse to bow out of the democratic process. North Carolina is a swing state, and voters here will truly play a role in determining who the next president will be.

Voting is just the tip of the electoral iceberg. Getting involved with campus groups such as the Young Democrats or College Republicans allows students to expand their political footprints.

The groups’ debate on Monday is one example of discourse that allows students to promote their ideas while informing others.

Political involvement isn’t limited to just holding the party line, though.

Students with particular concerns and passions can work specifically for change in those areas. Picking one issue lets activists focus their energies.

Interest groups seeking change on specific issues abound on campus.

With all the academic demands on students, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s happening in the political realm.

But laws and elections, believe it or not, matter. For example, many students receive Pell grants to finance their education. These grants are federally funded and whoever is elected determines how — and if — certain students receive them.

There is also a wide range of policies in the works that will surely affect students long after they graduate.

Some people lament that the problems — and the electorate — are both so large that they could never make a difference on their own.

But this is no reason for despair. Someone has to be the deciding vote in an election. Why not a student?