The stands shook and 14,311 spectators roared as Appalachian State University stole Furman University’s two-point conversion for the win in Saturday’s game. A mass of students tore onto the field and headed for the south goal post, whose eventual destination after a quick dip in Duck Pond, would be Sanford Mall.
    After Black Saturday, addressing such an issue as student apathy is a bit more difficult.
    However, this is no typical apathy editorial. Students have already been encouraged to get informed and get involved, without a great deal of success. Obviously, a larger issue at hand is creating such low numbers in student involvement across the board.
    Apathy should have a special definition for college students because by the very nature of being a college student is not apathetic. Part of going to college is taking a vested interest in yourself and figuring out who you want to be and where you want to go when these four (or more) years are completed.
    And it’s fine if everyone is not always up in arms and screaming about every little issue that comes along. The rush would be too much for both the scheduled and unscheduled Free Speech Zones.
    However, there are some issues that deserve the attention of every student, to not only be informed about but about which to make some noise.
    One of these issues is tuition and the scary trend of recent years to use students as a coiffeur for the university. Some responsibilities, such as staff and faculty salaries, are not ours to bear.
    Another issue is voting. The Eller/Williams campaign won by only 25 votes in last year’s SGA elections, proving a small number of people can make a big difference.
    Most students would agree these are issues that must be addressed by the student body. But most students do not actually feel their involvement would make any difference in the outcome.
    And therein lies the root of apathy within the Appalachian student body.
    This campus may actually foster apathy. Why should students be anything but apathetic in the face of an administration that listens to student opinion and then often makes a decision what we see as against our best interests?
    Why should students become involved in student government? When was the last time anything of great note taken before the administration was actually approved? How often is anything of great note taken before the administration?
    This is the question of importance concerning apathy: Does student voice have any power at Appalachian?
    But there is also a flip side: Why should student voice have any power if we’ve never shown we care enough to use it?
    Black Saturday showed the heart and enthusiasm dwelling within the Appalachian student body. We have the passion; we have to use it.
    This campus is ours; this school is ours. It should be up to us to create an environment that combats apathy, not fosters it. If we don’t show we care, it won’t ever matter. Be proactive in your school and stop the ongoing cycle of campus apathy.