Look out for Monday's article, "Head of costume stolen from campaign (March 29)," in an upcoming Late Night with Conan O'Brien show. It's been submitted by students who've laughed between their tears at the sheer ridiculousness of this sad, sad year in campus politics. No doubt, O'Brien will have something to say about the relationship between Penn State's party reputation and its silly students who are buzzing about Squirrel Gate and what constitutes a fair price for a piece of cloth ($3? $4? Perhaps $6.88?). These are people who are blinded by irrelevancy in their oblivious University Park bubble, while the rest of the nation's young leaders are concerned about issues such as AIDS, war, poverty, education, campus safety, civic engagement, etc.

Perhaps, he will mention the irony of an Elections Commission that crucifies prophets by fabricating scandals rather than concentrating on getting students informed about real issues and mobilized to vote. Yes, we deserve all the jeers we will get. Penn State, I implore you: Forget the rules for a minute. Look at issues, ideas. Vote.

This circus needs to stop. It's really not funny, especially when the joke is on us and political consciousness is at stake. Vote for someone who will instigate students to truly act like citizens in a democracy, to have civil engagement and be empowered instead of uninterested, and even disgusted, by their bureaucracy-loving peers who dream of being officials. They, too, have forgotten what democracy is all about. Let's send the message by voting, on issues, not on petty, finger-pointing sideshows.