Baker University is politically stagnant. This campus has everything any good politically charged school needs, and yet, we lay dormant.

Sure, we had a group of students who took charge of the gay marriage issue, and yes, we had students run an election watch just two years ago, and sure, there were the debates held here by Baker students for Baldwin City’s elections, but these were all class projects.

I know I am at fault here also because for the past year and a half I have failed to start back up the Young Democrats here on campus. But it’s not just me – it’s everyone.

Last year when Sophomore Michael John Anthony Green tried to get our attention about the situation in Darfur and raise funds, he was met with a low turnout at his highly publicized event. We need more people like him and others who are willing to put their necks out for causes that are worthy, causes that need attention and causes that cannot stay on the back page of our newspapers.

Professors have done their job to put these politically charged ideas in our heads for action but it is not their job to organize us, it is ours.

There are plenty of good political events going on this year to get involved with. Most likely, your congressman or congresswoman is up for election this year. Maybe the mayor of your hometown or even a relative is running for something. Perhaps it would be to your benefit if you found something you were interested in helping with efforts like AIDS work in Africa or even helping the homeless right next door in Lawrence.

Most of us here at Baker have lived a fairly privileged lifestyle our entire lives, and for some, this lifestyle will continue far past our parent’s pockets. But we cannot continue to believe that the world ends at our fence line.

So please find something you are passionate about and get involved and help out. The world needs more people like Mr. Green to get causes onto our campus and make us aware of what is wrong with the world. So please volunteer, help, make a change and do something good, even if it’s only for one hour a week, it would still be an hour that could make the difference.