Across the country and around campus, the same tired story of general apathy toward politics has been regurgitated endlessly, all to no avail. What will it take to get the students, the community and the country involved in the politics that really do have an effect on their daily lives?

For the country, Ross Perot and Admiral Stockdale’s bumbling 1992 campaign and debates had the people tune in with renewed interest in the political forum. Although most watched just to see how humiliatingly the Reformers could portray themselves, the end result of their campaign was positive: they inspired people to get involved in the issues, and Americans began to believe that their involvement might actually make a difference in daily life. No such luck with Purdue and its student government elections.

Students just don’t seem to care. The majority of them aren’t even aware who the Purdue Student Government president is. His name is Busch Voigts III, in case anyone is wondering, and his position will be relieved after the elections of April 4, 5 and 6. In fact, less than 10 percent of the student body voted during the last election — only three times the number of signatures it takes for a student to qualify for candidacy.

This presidency, as well as the senatorial positions and all others in PSG, affects student life. Fund allocation and student activities come under control of PSG, and the officers determine what happens.

PSG will most likely never have an off-the-wall candidate that captivates the interest of the student body, especially with the recent by-law that it's implemented. The new rule requires candidate hopefuls and their running mates to have no fewer than three semesters combined of PSG experience, even though its constitution states that every student by definition is a member of PSG. Its logic, although functioning as a tool for creating more competent officers, is exclusionary by principle and essentially unconstitutional.

This issue, and perhaps others that will arise during the March 30 debate, should compel students to get involved in the function and motivation of PSG and its officials. They need to be reminded for who and what it is the members are serving.

Who knows? This involvement has the potential to circle fully throughout the campus and open the government system back up for everyone to appreciate.

If only 10 percent of the student body has concern over the government right now, then that means that PSG is essentially an autonomous entity. It is acting in the good faith of students, but voter turnout will make PSG feel like it actually has someone tangible to work for.