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About The Grantonian (Portland, Ore.) 19??-???? | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1968)
4 October 18, 1968 THE GRANTONIAN Editorials Generals ^Idoter reqiitra.ti.on requeited for elections According to Webster, democracy is “govern ment by the people, either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled.” U.S. Grant high school’s government is supposed to fol low this democratic process, but does it? Although almost every student votes (they al- most have to—ballots and IBM pencils are “spoon fed” to them), very few of these voters actually know who, or what, they’re voting for. Because they do not, they cannot vote wisely. What our “democratic process” needs is a voting system like the national government’s—including vofer registration. Perhaps voting booths could be set up in center hall, or maybe certain rooms could be designated as polling places. Maybe even precincts could be set up, according to a student’s reg room, or social studies class. Abolishment of the election assembly would be invaluable. Instead of an election assembly (where all the candidates come forward and are intro duced), let the candidates campaign for them selves. Let them hold extemporaneous speeches and political rallies. Let the student body really understand the candidates and their stands; let the student body get to know the candidates as they really are. Perhaps press interviews could be set up; pos sibly a debate between opposing candidates could be held. The voter who participated in these things wbuld be the voter who is concerned and does care; a vot er who wants to accomplish something worth while, and not just cast a vote for the candidate who tells the funniest jokes. What a person is now, he will be tomorrow. The voters who participate in the high school elections today will be the voters who participate in the national elections tomorrow'. If a person does not care, and is not concerned enough to know exactly who, and what, he’s voting for now, will he in the future? This is a year of campaigning, convincing, and conniving on the school scene as well as the national level. Newspapers on Robert Packwood, Miorse buttons, and many other items are handed out on the streets and in the classroom. The student is playing a bigger role in politics than ever before. Hubert Humphrey spoke at Sunset High School and many other political figures have spoken at other schools—not Portland schools though. According to school board Rules and Regulations., chapter 10, section B, item M, “The buildings of School District Number One shall not be used by individuals, groups, or organizations for promotion of political activities of any nature during the hours when schools are usually and regularly in session. Distribution or display of literature, posters, cards, or materials of any nature advertising the candidacy of any individual or individuals, and the partisan promotion of any political cause, party, or groups, or any proposed change in our government, shall be permitted in public school buildings only at meetings regularly scheduled with the business office for that purpose, and in no event shall be connected with regular school functions without consent of the Board. There shall be no soliciting of funds, distribution of literature, or other activities for political purposes by employees of this district while on duty. Principals shall be responsible for the enforcement of these regulations in the building or buildings ■under their control.” In other words, high school students are expected to ignore politics altogether as far as the school day is concerned. The halls of learning . . . it makes one wonder ... ^Jiie Grantonian Generalities Alumnus John Luik, who took the Published weekly by the advanced jour Advance Placement English tests last nalism class of Ulysses S. Grant high year received a score of four, on a zero school, room 203, 2245 N.E. 36th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97212. Phone 288-5975. to five scale, with five the highest, and is Printed by Modern Typesetting company using the full year English Composition with a circulation of 3200. Second class credit he received with his score at postage paid at Portland, Ore. Subscrip tion cost $2.00 per year. Northwest Nazarene in Idaho. The Advance Placement Test takes Vol. 73, No. 6 — October 18, 1968 three hours and consists of several sepa Editor.......................................Jan Kelley rate tests. The first exam is a close analy Page 1 editor...................... June Ammon Page 2 editor............................... Marlene Feves sis of a poem, and is followed by two es say questions, which usually deal with Page 3 editor.................. Bruce Fishback the person’s ability to see thematic bonds Page 4 editor .................... Martha Ojard in literature. The student is given a Reporters........ Debby Liesch, Katherine McGregor, Kathi Robinson, Lisa Rose, choice between 15 to 25 authors (for ex Debbie Rovech, Gary Cogill ample), and is allowed to pick one to Photographer................ Joyce DeMonnin answer each essay question. The question Advertising Manager .... Kathy Walton usually deals with some aspect of writ Circulation Manager .... Kathy Walton ing, and the student is expected to pick Circulation Staff ... .Margaret Hadden, one author and elaborate on that author’s Mary Ann Hutton writing style, etc., as it applies to the Advisor..................... . ....... Willard Mohn question. Amendments need 'hierarchy' consent Jack Sharpe and Chris Leuthold re cently confronted the General Council and Executive Council with proposed amendments to the Grant constitution. Under Article IV, Section I, they pro pose that “The membership of the Gen eral Council shall consist of one repre sentative from each freshman, sopho more, junior, and senior English class. The election of the rep shall be as early each semester as possible. . . . He may be eligible for re-election.” Under Article IV, Section IV, it is proposed that “The General Council shall have the power to pass all legisla tion. Legislation of the Council . . . must be signed by the Student Body President within a ten-day period. . . . Vetoed leg islation may be re-considered by the General Council and if passed by a two- thirds majority ... it shall become law.” Under Article V, Section III, they pro pose that “The Executive Council shall have the power to propose legislation to the General Council. The Executive Council shall legislate all budgetary mat ters relative to their duties as the princi pal’s representatives.” Their next proposed amendment con cerns Article VI, Section I. “An amend ment to this constitution may arise in either the General or Executive Council. If passed by . . . the General Council. . . and by those voting in special election ... it shall become part of this constitu tion.” Their last amendment concerns Article I, Section I, By-Laws. “It shall be the duty of the Student Body President to appear personally at the third meeting of the new General Council to present his legislative goals for the coming se mester, lead all assemblies, be the offi cial representative of the Student Body Committees . . . and have the power to veto or sign any legislation coming from the General Council.” Comment by Marlene Feves Eie*Nie-Mie>-Nie-Mi-Nie-Mo—place an “X” in the candidate’s box. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know his platform, qualifications, or even who he is; you have to vote for someone! His name has a nice ring to it, so go ahead, give him your vote. Is this the way you vote? Is this the way the leaders of our school, the offi cers who serve all of us, are elected? Is it fair that those who don’t care about oUr student government, and those who don’t even know the names of candidates, should be able to cast votes that are as valid as those cast by people Dei setdner who really do care? Are these apathetic, ignorant votes enough to decide an election? Registered voting in all student body elections would permit only those inter ested enough to register on their own time a valid vote. The actual voting would take place in polls or in an official voting room, thus keeping the votes con fidential and away from the open discus sions of the reg rooms, where voting now takes place. Would registered voting really be beneficial to elections at Grant? “No,” commented Del Seidner, a sen ior, when asked about the voting change. “At a school I used to attend in Florida, we had registered voting and it was pretty suc cessful,” she admitted. “All the kids really backed up the candi dates and supported them. But I don’t think Debbie Chun« kids are as spirited here at Grant as they were in Florida. I don’t think they would be willing to give up their own time to vote,” she con cluded. “I don’t think you should have to vote if you don’t want to,” commented junior Debbie Chung. “I think we should have to register to vote. There seems to be a lot of apathy toward elections,” she ex plained. “Many officers are elected only by popularity and not ability. It sort of makes the offices themselves look like a farce. Registered voting would eliminate all of the wasteful votes,” she declared. “I feel it’s a good idea,” asserted fresh man Craig Enyeart, after a moment of careful thought. “Reg istered voting would be different and just might work. It would be a good preparation for the way elections are in real life. Even if only a few people vot ed, at least they would crui« Enyeart " elect the person they really wanted and thought was qualified. Letters to the Editor I understand a few years ago a petition was raised in the neighborhood to see if it was all right for Grant to put in lights, bleachers, and a fence, and have a sta dium. I feel this should be brought up again. Grant is one of the largest schools, and the best school in Oregon. Most of the other schools have football games at their own school, and Grant has to go to one of these schools for each game. Franklin has a similar bowl to ours, ex cept they have a fence, lights, more bleachers, and a scoreboard. I understand our bowl belongs to the park, but would they mind if it was im proved? The financing would have to be through drives, sales, and other factors, but look how well Grant did in the ML. drive. It might take two or three years, but I think the student body would have even more spirit, and would participate much more in cheering on oUr great teanrif this were undertaken. Sincerely, Jiin Rahl