Andrew Silverstein | My challenge to Penn

The issues that face our nation profoundly affect students.

In December, I was elected president of the Penn Democrats, which means I am expected to represent the Democratic Party’s principles. But my message today is anything but partisan. It is that the Penn community ought to become more politically involved.

Every pundit has said that students won’t show up for the 2012 election. They’ve ruled out the youth vote completely. They don’t think we care and they definitely don’t think we will go to the polls next November. No one believes that we can do what we did in 2008.

I disagree. Our generation passionately cares about the issues. America’s college students recognize that elections determine the future direction of our country. Issues like health care affordability, student loans, Afghanistan, Iraq and accessible quality education impact all of our lives.

There are two sides to every story and it is so important to know both. As a political science major, the University provides me the opportunity to learn the intricacies of both conservative and liberal ideology. I encourage every student, regardless of academic focus, to do the same. Watch both MSNBC and Fox, and read both liberal and conservative newspapers.

Many of my friends ask me why I’ve chosen to become involved in a political party. Most of them are simply frustrated by two rigid political parties that fail to compromise. I usually explain that I don’t agree with everything the Democrats do but that I favor their positions most of the time. In fact, if you’re looking for a party or a politician that represents every view you hold, I don’t think you’ll have much luck.

Our political elites are as divided as ever, but I hope this will not last. Nearly every generation tends to distance itself from the previous generation on some level. I guess it’s a way of rebelling against our parents. My hope is that our generation’s leaders will rebel against the current vitriolic language that seems to undermine our republic. For this reason, the Penn Democrats will continue teaming up with our friends in the College Republicans throughout this election season.

Too few people in Washington understand that cooperating for the betterment of our country does not equate to sacrificing our convictions. We need a movement for moderation in our political discourse. More than ever, what we need is a grassroots youth voice that stands for bipartisan solutions to our shared challenges. But this all begins with getting involved.

Our voices will not be heard unless we are active. With the lowest voter turnout among any age group, 18 to 25 year olds find themselves without any true representation in our government. We must vote so the politicians will stop finding it politically convenient to cut funding to programs important to young people.

The truth is, it’s our responsibility to have our perspective heard. It seems that those in power desire to silence our voices. Pennsylvania House Bill 934, which aims to disenfranchise many student voters throughout the Commonwealth, is just one measure of injustice in the long tradition of limiting youth civic influence.

There are a ton of ways for you to get politically involved, regardless of your personal ideological leanings. Getting involved means something different for each of us. Of course, you can attend a Penn Democrats or College Republicans initiative, go knocking on doors and phone banking, or join a local campaign. For some, studying one particular issue — and fighting for that one cause — is what politics is all about. For others, becoming politically engaged means simply talking to a friend for ten minutes about shared political values, registering to vote, or watching one of the debates.

Some might try to suppress it, but our voice truly matters. I challenge the Penn community to once again become a leader in student political activism over this next year.

No one thinks we can match 2008 turnout. Let’s prove them wrong.

Andrew Silverstein is a College junior from Huntington, New York. He is the president of the Penn Democrats. His email address is asilve@sas.upenn.edu.

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