(From left to right ) Rep. Vicki Walker, Gov. John Kitzhaber, Administrator Dave Hubin, and State Sen. Susan Castillo. The officials took turns addressing a crowd of about 60 in the EMU amphitheater Wednesday as part
His speech lasted no more than five minutes, but the “get out and vote” message Gov. John Kitzhaber imparted to a crowd of about 60 students, faculty and administrators in the EMU amphitheater Wednesday morning could resonate for years to come.
“Each of you has the opportunity to weigh in on issues this year that are important to students,” Kitzhaber said as he opened his speech. “Don’t give your political power to someone else.”
Kitzhaber said it is especially important for students to exercise their electoral voice during this election year, which is rife with ballot measures that will directly affect students — such as Measures 8, 88, 91 and 93. Issues on the table for this election year include affordable student health care and how higher education will be funded for years to come.
Though he said “this is not the forum” to share his vehement personal opinions on those measures, he encouraged students to study them carefully and make informed decisions at the polls.
“Definite power rests with student voters,” Kitzhaber said. “Use it.”
State Sen. Susan Castillo (D-Lane County), who spoke after Kitzhaber, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Voting is the heart of our democracy. It belongs to all of us.”
She said many students feel the Legislature overlooks their needs, while accommodating the public policy wishes of seniors. This is because a much higher percentage of seniors vote, she said. In fact, in the 1996 presidential elections, 67 percent of eligible seniors voted, while only 32.4 percent of eligible students voted, according to a US Census Bureau report.Castillo also spoke of her colleague, state Senate Minority Leader Kate Brown (D-Portland), who was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1996 by a mere seven votes.
“Every vote counts,” she said.
State Rep. Vicki Walker (D-Lane County) zeroed in on ballot Measure 91 in her address, saying it would put a stranglehold on students hoping for tuition freezes. She further emphasized the importance of student voters setting an example for others.
“In 1992, this campus registered more students to vote than any campus in this whole nation,” she said. “In the year 2000, we want to surpass that. Help us get there.”
Students seated in the amphitheater and some who stopped and stood on the sidewalk at the corner of 13th Avenue and University Street applauded after each speaker and seemed attentive to the speeches. Only one outbreak occurred during the event, when a student, who was responding to the pleas of Castillo for students to vote, yelled: “The Democrats and Republicans won’t let Ralph Nader speak!”
One University freshman, Nathaniel Martin-Long, said he just turned 18 and will vote in his first presidential election this November. He’s registered as a Democrat, but said he’s dissatisfied with the two major parties and will probably register himself in the Pacific Green Party soon. But despite his dissatisfaction, Martin-Long said it’s important for those who care about public policy to vote.
“If you’re not registered and you don’t vote, you can’t complain about the way things are going,” he said.