Nothing gets students riled up more than a perceived revocation of a privilege they now enjoy. Last fall, the Provo City Council responded to local residents’ concerns and passed a parking program south of campus. Few students objected. This past spring, Provo City held hearings to implement the parking program south of campus. Many students strongly objected.

The Student-Provo City Alliance formed amid the confusion to help find truth and work with the city and university in a meaningful way. Since then, each city council member has spoken with us several times. They are friendly, helpful, and eager to work with students. Their primary concern with students is simple: we need to vote, and vote locally if we want to be considered an equal stakeholder in the community.

We students have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference and be an equal stakeholder.

We can register and vote in Provo’s election this fall. A new mayor and three city councilmen are up for election. Issues dealing with students are at the forefront: the closure of Rock Canyon, bringing great businesses near BYU and more. We have created a non-partisan Web site to help students and residents register to vote and make educated decisions in the polling booth at studentprovocityalliance.org.

Be a doer, a leader, an active member of the community. We’ll be holding an information session Tuesday (9/29) at 7:30 p.m. at the Provo City Library in room 308 to help you get involved in the political process.

Andrew Walker
President – Student-Provo City Alliance
(From the Daily Universe, 29 Sept 2009)