The big day has finally arrived -- Election Day.
After a two year-long election season, American voters will decide today if Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States.
Penn State students have the chance to be a part of a historic election. Either the first female vice president or first black president will be selected today.
You've been told a million times that it is important to vote. You've been handed fliers on the street and called by the campaigns. Posters have been left on your apartment door all weekend. But now it's time to live up to the expectations that have been set for this generation of voters.
Centre County broke records with registration numbers this year. It is only appropriate that the area shatter records again at the polls today.
But breaking records will likely mean long lines in the HUB-Robeson Center and other polling places.
Expect to wait, even if you'd rather be at home on the couch. Bring a book or some homework and enjoy the fact that you have the chance to be part of a free democratic system.
Professors should be patient with students who may be forced to miss class and understand that voting can be a time-consuming process. Presidential elections come only once every four years, and they should be sympathetic to that fact.
Every student's vote is important in this election. Although that phrase has become a cliché to many who fail to understand its true meaning, the number of people who fill classrooms in the Forum could be the deciding factor for who is chosen to lead our country. Centre County may have turned blue, but every vote will be important.
In 2006, Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years by a margin of 23 votes from West Chester.
Twenty-three people selected the majority for our state's government. That's quite an impact.
A vote is participation in the democratic system. It is a ticket to complain for the next four years. People who are unhappy with the state of the country and American government have the opportunity today to cast a ballot for a change. Choosing not to vote shows apathy and disinterest.
As Penn State students, we complain about high tuition and football tickets, but the university is not a democracy. We did not choose our president.
The United States Constitution gives us the right to change our leadership if we are unhappy with taxes, or the economy, or foreign policy.
Today is the day to take advantage of our right to vote, regardless of the length of time we have to wait in line.
