Spring Break
Time for a change
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
09/10/08 - Even after Student Senate took a strong public stance against the "Unruly Gatherings" ordinance last year, many students and residents thought there was little hope for a sticker-free environment.
Stickers were still going up, fines were still being paid, and with questions from the Council like, "Who are they to oppose an ordinance?" students felt they were being disrespected.
But behind the scenes, the Student Senate was enlisting help.
This year begins with a controversial case in the federal court, with the American Civil Liberties Union on URI's side. But taking the case out of its home in South County brings the Student Senate to a distinct disadvantage. According to the latest Census (2000), the town had a population of 16,361. There are roughly 9,000 URI students living in Bonnet Shores, Eastward Look, Point Judith and the Pier - matching more than half of Narragansett's permanent residents.
With that big of a presence in Narragansett, one would think a Council of five is sorely outnumbered.
But, unfortunately, URI's past record is one of a silent and "apathetic" student population, and our recent history only further proves this point.
Only 4 percent of students cast ballots last February for the election of Student Senate president and vice president, respectively. The year before that, a mere 3 percent voted in the same election - that's less than 800 students out of the roughly 14,000 who attend this university. It was only that small group of students who voted for the heads of the student body that control finances for every student group on campus.
But if there was ever a time for the student body to band together, now is the time. The ACLU and the Student Senate seems determined to win their lawsuit, but they can't without the support of the student body.
URI now has a powerful ally in the ACLU, but it could use the help from the other 13,000 students who have quietly sat on the sidelines, groaning about the sudden postings on their peers' doors.
In the meantime, the students who have appealed their orange stickers will have to wait for their day in court. One would hope that this will lead to a speedy resolution, and not keep those living in Narragansett, whether students or lifelong residents, waiting.
Stickers were still going up, fines were still being paid, and with questions from the Council like, "Who are they to oppose an ordinance?" students felt they were being disrespected.
But behind the scenes, the Student Senate was enlisting help.
This year begins with a controversial case in the federal court, with the American Civil Liberties Union on URI's side. But taking the case out of its home in South County brings the Student Senate to a distinct disadvantage. According to the latest Census (2000), the town had a population of 16,361. There are roughly 9,000 URI students living in Bonnet Shores, Eastward Look, Point Judith and the Pier - matching more than half of Narragansett's permanent residents.
With that big of a presence in Narragansett, one would think a Council of five is sorely outnumbered.
But, unfortunately, URI's past record is one of a silent and "apathetic" student population, and our recent history only further proves this point.
Only 4 percent of students cast ballots last February for the election of Student Senate president and vice president, respectively. The year before that, a mere 3 percent voted in the same election - that's less than 800 students out of the roughly 14,000 who attend this university. It was only that small group of students who voted for the heads of the student body that control finances for every student group on campus.
But if there was ever a time for the student body to band together, now is the time. The ACLU and the Student Senate seems determined to win their lawsuit, but they can't without the support of the student body.
URI now has a powerful ally in the ACLU, but it could use the help from the other 13,000 students who have quietly sat on the sidelines, groaning about the sudden postings on their peers' doors.
In the meantime, the students who have appealed their orange stickers will have to wait for their day in court. One would hope that this will lead to a speedy resolution, and not keep those living in Narragansett, whether students or lifelong residents, waiting.
