U{ KRT 0,! spojo! ft se veya pjsoi edcol morej ■ogs, sses. .'tiaract he’s! dai arc ty-D( mt'oi mai: early, Bush has right to campaign off Sept. 11 Itl Recently, there has been a lot of complaining by liberals and v Democrats about the use of 9-11 footage in our commander in chiefs 6 1 campaign commercials. However, I believe that George Bush has a moral duty to campaign aggressively, not only for his own re-election, but for the lives of our soldiers and for the posterity of our nation. We are at a critical juncture, when people will not only be electing a s di(t president, but will be deciding whether they want the United States to continue existing as a nation. Naturally, if Bush is re-elected, our coun try will continue to be defended and loss of American life will be mini mal. But should John Kerry be elected, our enemies will be emboldened, and the lives of our citizens and soldiers will be endangered ten-fold. Knowing the sheer gutlessness of the Democratic Party, terrorists will strike at us relentlessly if Kerry is elected. By electing Kerry the United tryilStates is acknowledging that their evil will go uncontested. The thought iw|ofsiJch harm being wrought upon America is undoubtedly sickening to President Bush, and he knows his re-election must be secured at any cost, lest our nation fall to the terrorist onslaught. By using any means necessary to ensure that our country will remain :tres war heroes: retired Gen. Wesley Clark and for- L mer Georgia Sen. Max Cleland. Some have even ^ suggested former President Bill Clinton. But he ^ is too much of a divisive figure to do much A good and, besides, he has already had his turn in B the White House. What gives Edwards the advantage over all the others in this fine list of potential vice presidents is his campaign 2004 experience. He is already a familiar and welcome face to American voters. And while Kerry is obviously the Democrats’ favorite, Edwards was able to build a commend able group of followers. Plus, it is esti mated the Bush-Cheney re-election effort will have a $200 million war chest with which to wage its campaign. It is important Kerry picks someone who can slip comfortably into campaign mode. That someone is Edwards who only dropped out of the race last week. While Kerry is a strong contender alone, the formula is clear: He plus Edwards equals a return to a Democratic White House. Collins Ezeanyim is a senior computer engineering major. Graphic by Chris Griffin SGA doing inadequate job addressing student interests T uition increases. Bonfire. Diversity. Poultry science and Journalism. Hotard Hall. At least one, if not all, of these issues stirs up a well of emotions in most of the students on campus, and all students will eventually feel the blow of the decisions made regarding these issues in some way. Unfortunately, the thoughts and feelings of most students on campus will never reach the Texas A&M administration’s ears. Enter the Student Government Association, an entire sect of students on campus whose purpose is to effectively communicate student interests through representation to the administration. How effec tively they do this, however, is questionable, and the SGA must do more to foster two-way communication with students. While it has to be mentioned that SGA has made efforts to gain student input through various methods such as suggestion boxes, outreach days and mass e-mails to freshmen, the tangible results of that input is unconfirmed. One such attempt to gain student input is through Aggie Input boxes, where students can submit suggestions or concerns that are brought before the executive council of SGA on a weekly basis. Andy Herreth, executive vice president of communications for SGA, said no suggestions from the Aggie Input boxes have been implemented, a statistic that is discouraging at best. Through other methods such as continued involvement in other activities outside of SGA, those on the Executive Council of SGA attempt to stay in touch with the student body. However, they are only getting feedback from those with like minds and those involved in typical leadership organizations. Other students, who don’t pursue an active role in staying informed on campus issues, will most likely never know more than large-scale events unless they are within the protective bubble of Student Government or the Memorial Student Center programs. While they may not voice their complaints because of their disconnection from many campus events, their opinions matter as much as anyone else’s. If student opinion isn’t readily available for SGA, it must be sought proactively. SGA must be committed to actively promoting and defending student interests. Large-scale student opposition to any administrative decision needs to be openly and publicly backed by SGA. Much of SGA’s work remains “behind the scenes” and “noth ing that would make the front page of The Battalion,” Student Body President Matt Josefy said. While it is undoubtedly benefi cial to have those who sacrifice their time to do the work unde tected, it is imperative to have a strong and vehement voice speaking for the students. However, in past issues, grassroots activism has provided the requisite decision-maker to ultimately make decisions, with SGA support existent but unnoticeable. The establishment and continuation of an off-campus Bonfire in response to the discontinuation of the on-campus Bonfire occurred without the public support of SGA; rather, it was fueled by unrec ognized organizations. The closure of the poultry science program and the journalism department was protested by students, while SGA only confirmed student opinion on the issue to the adminis tration. The closure of Hotard Hall was fought against by residents and former residents of the dorm. SGA voiced student discontent over the issue to Texas A&M University President Robert M. Gates, but allowed residents to be the ones to organize, fight and discuss plans for it. When Gates announced plans to increase tuition by 21 percent, the Tuition Policy Advisory Board, composed of various campus leaders, including Josefy, was formed to influence future tuition decisions. However, Josefy said increasing tuition is unavoidable when looking at the rising cost of tuition across the country, but other factors about tuition increases could be controlled. While there is certainly truth to his argument, the lack of a firm, proac tive opinion toward the administration essentially gives in to administrator’s tuition demands before a fight. There are no stu dents who want to pay more for their tuition. But without unified student opposition coming from all forces, including the single most influential student, the student body president, the likelihood of the full increase is all the more certain. Overall, SGA affirms these student opinions, but because of their high-ranking positions on campus, they have the responsibili ty and the power to mobilize students instead of affirming student belief after the fact. Students need to believe that SGA is on their side, fighting for their rights instead of appeasing administrators. If students are out spokenly against an issue on campus, SGA should be just as pub licly united against it as it is privately working for it. Sara Foley is a junior journalism major.