With Earth Day approaching, it might be easy to forget how truly flabbergasting modern handheld technology truly is. Sometimes we all take the wonders of computer technology for granted. I realize people say we take the trees and dirt and air and environment for granted, but really, I’m upset that we don’t more openly appreciate the digital universe made specifically to make our lives easier, more convenient and unnecessarily luxurious. Think about how clutch iPods and Blackberrys, wireless networks and laptops all are, and all the amazing features each one uses. The speed and quality of communication in all its forms is frankly awe-inspiring. What’s more amazing is not how these items increase communication, but how they are used to do just the opposite – ignore the world.
You might be able to make an On-The-Go Playlist, but that pales in comparison with an iPod’s ability to disarm, disable and dissuade ASUO presidential hopefuls. That’s right people, we all do it, and it’s OK because it’s really, really funny. Whether it’s the insertion of noise-proof earphones or my personal favorite, the fake conversation you’re having on your cell phone, technology’s most critical on-campus use comes when the people in uncomfortably bright T-shirts mob you with flyers, pizza, hugs and pseudo agendas. As we approach campus’ Times Square, and the fluorescent glow of 100 percent cotton becomes visible, we prep our devices and stern faces for the inevitably painful onslaught that is only being avoided thanks to our technological ability to put the world on mute.
I admitted that I pull this strategy just to get a laugh, but the real reason is one I think most of us all share: We don’t want to get hassled, cornered, or trapped into a conversation about an election we don’t care about. The youth vote in the U.S. presidential election is usually doomed-2008 excluded-so what chance does the ASUO have? Apathy is a killer, no doubt, but in my five glorious years here at the UO, I have never voted in an ASUO election, never cared to, and never noticed a difference in the general quality of student life from year-to-year. I have been involved with a few campus groups, and the only thing I can say I have noticed is an ASUO senator’s annual harassment of KWVA – the student operated campus radio station. I know the student government’s intentions are good, but the only time I feel the ASUO gets news coverage is when there is a controversial political “scandal,” when there’s a misjudgment in allocating money and when a senator is being a jackass and decides to question and attack another student group’s livelihood.
That being said, I applaud every candidate for his or her valiant attempt at padding a résumé. The winner of this election will benefit from it infinitely more than anyone else, naturally. I genuinely think every student wants only one thing: avoiding the obligation of dropping $300 per term on books. Unfortunately every year is exactly the same, and it’s the only thing I have ever wanted a UO “government” to accomplish in five years. This term, for example, I’m in a lower-level creative writing class, and all I can think about is the most cost-effective way to scam the system and not spend $70 on a book I’ll read once, return to the UO Bookstore, get $12.50 back for in compensation, before it gets marked with a yellow “used” sticker and resold for $50. Whatever.
The relative ineffectiveness and insignificance of the ASUO is irrelevant. What is relevant is the unexpected miracle that has developed from technology. All of these wonderful communication items with more bars in more areas, larger networks and bigger hard drives are being utilized to not interact with people. I figure the reason we all do this is because we are constantly being bombarded with advertisements, nearly 24/7, and we have become increasingly efficient in ignoring those ads we wish to ignore. Until the ASUO is selling something to students that we actually care about through a medium that doesn’t involve day-glow cotton, the campus government can continue to expect the “avoid” option from our wonderful gadgets.
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