STAFF EDITORIAL | Do your duty: Vote

Last month Thayne McCulloh, president of Gonzaga, sent out an e-mail urging students to actively involve themselves in our democratic society by voting in this November's election.

At The Bulletin, we would like to essentially echo McCulloh's cry for votes and urge Gonzaga students to embrace their roles in the communities that they are part of and take on their responsibilities to those communities by voting. Whether it's through the upcoming GSBA elections, Spokane County's elections or elections held in your hometown this fall, our message is one that has been reiterated throughout American politics since the beginning: Get out and vote.

According to Gonzaga University's Mission and Vision Statements, we are a University that strives to create students interested and involved in the world around them.

There are a number of reasons that students do not vote. As McCulloh stated in his e-mail, it is difficult for students to register to vote or complete absentee ballots, which are often sent to students' home addresses, while they are away at school. Even after students have registered to vote, many fall victim to the same hustle and bustle of everyday life that the rest of the country faces and the time to vote simply escapes them.     

    With schedules so busy that we barely have time to fit in meals, we understand that college students don't have much free time on their hands. It can often be difficult and daunting to take time to educate yourself on referendums and propositions, but this knowledge is necessary to be an active part of society.  To participate in shaping our communities, our counties and our country into an environment that we want to build and live in we must be knowledgeable of the changes ahead and take a stance.

Society is a form of extended family. We all contribute to society, either in a positive way or a negative way. Be sure to make your contribution count.