The first time I ever registered to vote was in 1996 when I was a Duke sophomore. I did so with the help of a fellow student at a table on the Bryan Center walkway primarily to vote against Republican Senator Jesse Helms.
Student political activism has an important place in this nation's history. This is why I was proud to read about the voter registration efforts of the group Duke Students for an Ethical Durham. It is also why I was incredibly disturbed to read reports that DSED, as well as other students, were forced by campus administrators and security officers to stop distributing voter registration materials in a parking lot outside the homecoming football game Sept. 30.
The explanations for this interference have ranged from the students' alleged failure to give prior notice (even though such notice was apparently given two weeks in advance and resulted in a number of conversations about logistics) to objections to the "bias" of the participants. The most disturbing explanation is that objections were raised because of a public relations concern that the students involved were motivated by support for the men's lacrosse team.
To date, Duke faculty and administrators have taken a very passive approach to the questionable course of the lacrosse investigation. Whereas a large group of faculty members thanked protesters for making themselves heard in response to the allegations, no similar support has been expressed for students raising questions about the conduct ofDurham authorities. This policy of passivity, right or wrong, should not be extended to students by force. It is certainly not a justification to stop voter registration activities.
I applaud the efforts of DSED and other students getting involved during this difficult and controversial moment. The courage and concern of these students should be supported by the University, not suppressed.
Greg Kidder
Trinity '99
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