Candidates, students deserve respect
Brian Gibson
junior
This is in response to the Viewpoint column that appeared Tuesday entitled, "Student Government elections are a farce." Just how can someone be so negative toward Notre Dame's student government? Look. Life is too short to be bitter and negative.
How about, instead of tearing down classmates who run for office, we just keep the hurtful opinions out of the paper. It's incredibly disheartening to invest hours of work just to have them belittled (emphasis on the Litle) by someone who chooses to one day sit down and throw a poorly thought-out essay on paper.
Another thing that really got me fired up was how the author jumped to this conclusion: "Candidates seek student government office, not to benefit us students, but rather to pad their own resumes." Since when can this guy read into the candidates' hearts? He can't. And for all he knows, there could be some really great leaders in the election who are ready to work diligently and get things done for the student body. Padding a resume? No, my friend, what you are witnessing is something much greater than some bulleted dot on a piece of paper.
As if knocking the candidates wasn't enough, the author then endeavored to slam the student body as a whole. I do believe that he referred to the students as "sheep" and as incapable of having a voice towards the administration.
Look. We are a university composed of some of the most competitive people our society has to offer — people who are aspiring to be doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers and, overall, the best people they can possibly be. And you have the audacity to liken us to sheep? Right. The student body at Notre Dame is not quiet like sheep. In fact, we roar like lions. Care to join?
In less than a week, the student body is going to have the opportunity to vote in two people as their president and vice president. Acknowledge the hard work and effort that the candidates have put forth over the past week, consider the issues and make the decision that is right for you. It's as simple as that. Don't let cynicism leak its way into the way we view student government. Notre Dame did not achieve greatness with negativity; it did so with positive inspiration.
Editor's note: Brian Gibson is the acting manager of the Scott Palko / P.J. Mercanti campaign for student body president and vice-president.
Brian Gibson
junior
Keough Hall
Feb. 6, 2002
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, February 7, 2002
