Getting a job is not difficult

After reading Jessica Smith’s argument on Feb. 3 (Kentucky laws make it difficult to find jobs) in favor of supporting minors serving alcohol, I was frustrated enough to respond in writing. The only things hindering Smith from obtaining a lucrative part-time job are attitude and ambition.?

Kentucky’s Alcoholic Bureau of Controls is not trying to make college kids lives more difficult; we can do that ourselves. ABC is trying to regulate irresponsible consumption of a drug that has ruined lives for as long as history has been recorded.

If one wanders into the uncharted lands of “job-hunting” and turns over a few rocks, they will find a plethora of people looking to hire a college student or two.?

After transferring this semester from Marquette where I held 18 credits and three jobs – as a manager of a health club, a rock climbing instructor, and a bouncer – I was determined to find work here.

One week after I arrived, I was hired at Tender Touch Auto Wash, the first place I applied. Drying off cars in inclement weather is nobody’s dream job, but if the end pursued is money, why does it matter?

If Smith is set on getting that job as a server, she should apply at the new location, work as a hostess and clarify intentions with her manager before starting. What a great way to get a foot in the door.

Smith mentions in her commentary that Kentucky is a liberal state. However, both of her premises are untrue, and even if this wasn’t the case, judging a state as liberal on those grounds wouldn’t be logical.

Kentucky law requires persons under 21 who operate a motorcycle to wear a helmet. Kentucky is also one of 11 states in the forefront of heavy regulations on tattooing.

Best of luck to you in your endeavors, Jessica, and by the way, Tender Touch is still hiring. You even get tips!

Jon Woods

Minneapolis junior

Elections need young informed voters

According to the article in Jan. 29 edition of the Herald, two students are running in local elections with the idea of increasing voter turnout amongst younger voters.

“Just get out there and vote,” boasts one candidate. The Herald also reports that Sandra Ardrey, head of the political science department, agrees with the students running for office and that it “fits in with Western’s quality enhancement program.”

Where did the idea come from that increasing voter turnout is a good thing? The media often states it as “expressing” oneself.

Is expressing yourself what you should be doing at a voting booth? More important than expressing one’s self is making an informed decision about a candidate. People don’t have a responsibility to vote. Rather, voters have a responsibility of picking the leaders who shape our future. That is not a responsibility to be taken lightly.

Instead of trying to increase voter turnout, maybe our Western student candidates should strive to increase awareness amongst the voting population. Increasing voter turnout among uninformed people decreases the quality of the decision being made – a far cry from “quality enhancement.”

Personally, I feel most students (and other young voters) ought to stay home on election day.

Are young people really aware of the issues that our community faces? Maybe, but those who are aware and informed will probably vote anyway if they have a candidate they share principles with. So don’t “express” yourself on election day, be responsible, get informed and then vote. But if you can’t take this responsibility seriously, then maybe you should stay home. We don’t need more voters, we need more informed voters.

Eric Wolfe

Network specialist

Network Computing & Communications

Give noise to Hilltoppers

Thursday is another big day. Diddle Arena will once again be flooded by masses of red, as we take on Middle Tennessee State. Time to get hyped.

Or is it?

One thing I have noticed, as of late, has been rather discouraging to me. I would come to the games, dress in red, and get all hyped about the night’s match up. I would converse with numerous people, all anticipating a good game, but then something amazing happens. Once the ball is tipped there is little to no noise, no cheering for our Toppers. This is NCAA Division I basketball. Where is all the excitement?

I realize that the fan base will be considerably larger, and much more “into the game” when ESPN is picking up the game, but what about every other time? Why don’t people cheer on our Toppers at every game? Why don’t people get enthusiastic before we are down 14 points like when we were playing Louisiana-Lafayette? Now I understand that there are the loyal fans out there that do get into the game. However, what about those fans out there who attend countless school activities and don’t wear red or wear other team logos? What about the students in our section that don’t know our fight song? Any student who attends Western should at least know that. The words to the fight song are so simple.

The Toppers need your support Thursday night. This is going to be a big game, and we need the win, not only for our overall record but for conference play as well. The team draws off your presence and even from your cheers and chants. I hope to see you all there as we cheer on our three-time Sun Belt Conference Champions. Also don’t forget about the Lady Toppers as they travel to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee State. Don’t forget your red and white. Go Tops!

Robert Ashby

Louisville sophomore