If a man came up to you and told you that you should stop eating junk food and watching TV all of the time, would you vote for him for president of the United States?
Neither would I.
Come to think of it, I would probably nominate a 35-year-old version of Hutch Williams before I’d vote for a man by the name of Ned Coll.
But nonetheless, Coll, from Fairfield University’s class of 1962, has put his name into the field of candidates for the Democratic nomination, and he wants college students to understand his purpose.
He believes his intentions need to be heard, especially by students. Coll feels that today’s collegiate students are not as politically active as they should be.
In an exclusive with The Mirror last week, Coll said college students are “really not doing much and the reason they’re not doing much, I think, is that they’re not being challenged to do much. It’s as simple as that.”
Coll has become a crusader against two cultural problems among college students: the intake of sugar and the increase of television viewers.
While many students will reluctantly agree that sugar and television do not foster academic growth, Stags don’t seem to be too concerned.
I agree with Coll on both of these issues, but it is going to take a whole lot more than an outspoken, and largely unknown, Fairfield alum to change the face of American politics.
Maybe if we combined him with politics professor John Orman it would turn more heads.
But Fairfield students are more interested in other things.
If Coll walked into any residential hall lounge on a Thursday at 9 p.m., he would be stunned to find that campus has come to call this night “Grey’s Anatomy night.” Political activism stops when Dr. McDreamy takes to the screen.
As for his message on the junk that students continue to shove down their throats, Coll needs to understand something about life at Fairfield: The only thing stopping us from eating healthful foods is that we have not yet built up a tolerance for Barone.
While students, faculty and anyone with even the slightest knowledge of U.S. politics recognize that Coll has little chance of becoming president, they really should re-evaluate the efforts of this man.
But just because someone knows he or she does not have a chance politically, it doesn’t mean they are not entitled to a right to voice their opinions.
If you are not going to give this man your vote, then give him your ear. If only for a little bit, absorb some of his wisdom and take into account his point of view.
But why should students be blamed for not giving him attention when the media gives him the cold shoulder?
Why isn’t Coll standing between powerhouse candidates such as Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama on the debate podiums? Shouldn’t his opinions also be heard?
Are Clinton’s ideas on universal health care or Obama’s views on the war in Iraq that much more important than Coll’s message of student activism?
If Coll does not get students involved, then they will remain oblivious to all other presidential candidates’ views and opinions.
I know that Coll has no shot at winning the election, but isn’t he running for the same position as Clinton and Obama? Whoever is sworn in on Jan. 20, 2008, should have had to answer to Coll on their campaign trail.
It is examples like these that are evidence of just how far our society is from a democracy.
Leave a Reply