The recent decision by a federal judge to overturn a directive of Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is a victory for the voting public and the right of every person to suffrage in this state.
Blackwell's directive to poll workers across Ohio stated that any voter who showed up and tried to vote in the wrong precinct would have to be redirected to the proper polling location. Democrats were enraged and sued Blackwell, saying that the moratorium on provisional ballots would unfairly discriminate against minorities and the poor, who move more often -and tend to vote Democratic.
Unfortunately, with his zeal for disenfranchisement, Blackwell is foolishly appealing the decision.
Along with his directive to forbid the casting of provisional ballots, Blackwell had also instructed county boards of elections not to accept voter registration cards that were not printed on a certain thickness of paper.
Blackwell's job is clearly laid out in the Ohio Revised Code and is relatively straight-forward. He is charged with making sure Ohio's elections run smoothly and that every vote is counted correctly. Maybe this whole controversy stems from his love of publicity, maybe from his bid for governor in 2006, but whatever it is, Blackwell is not doing the people of Ohio any favors by making it harder for them to vote.
This presidential election is one of the most contested in history and one of the most polarizing. Blackwell, a Republican, should not make it seem like his party affiliation is getting in the way of his job and his higher civic and moral responsibilities. In Ohio, touted by many as an important swing sate, every vote must count.
As the one man in Ohio vested with the power to control the elections, Blackwell must be cognizant of his duties and the responsibility they bring. Thankfully, and finally, federal courts have ruled his actions unlawful. But beyond the letter of the law, his tactics to disenfranchise Ohio voters are spectacularly unscrupulous and vile.
Choosing beauty over safety?
How many lights could Ohio University buy for the cost of Bicentennial Park? Take the cost of about $750,000 for the "beautification project," and divide it by $1,300 for a light fixture. That's more than 575 lights on this abyss of a campus.
While the money for capital improvements such as Bicentennial Park does not come from the general fund -the money that would be used to pay for lights -the university has allowed itself to expand beyond its ability to ensure the safety of the student body. By allowing the campus to fall into a black hole when the sun goes down, university administrators and police are shirking their responsibilities to students.
Student Senate, the OU Police Department and the university's Facilities Management Department recently took a night hike to see what the campus looks like in the dark. That was after -after -three women were assaulted. One woman was attacked by five men at about 11:00 p.m. on Sept. 30 between Alden Library and Ellis Hall -right in the heart of our fair university. It does not require much to see that this campus is dark at night.
The senate and university officials were right to take the hike, though. Something had to be done and even the smallest steps are appreciated. But even with $400,000 invested in the catwalks on South Green, the area remains dark. Stairs behind Siegfried Hall are poorly lit and pose a danger to anyone walking on them, not just from assault, but from simply falling. Lights are a good investment for the university and one that is easy to do.
The police and the university administrators have a responsibility to protect the physical and personal safety of the students. But, as too often happens, the university puts too much emphasis on expansion and gives little thought to the consequences.
With additions such as Margaret Walter Hall -and its recent carpet replacements -Bicentennial Park and a brand-new student center, the university is expanding cosmetically. But the original infrastructure cannot be ignored and allowed to fall into disrepair. A multi-million dollar student center, recreation center or anything on this campus is of little use if students do not feel safe walking after dusk.