Being a student in a time where Facebook, the Jersey Shore and Lady Gaga are everywhere you turn can make focusing on real issues tough. It’s bad enough finals loom closer, forcing many of us to bust open pricey textbooks and cut down on our pop culture consumption. So why would you add extra work to your life by studying for an election? While you’re reading that overpriced dead piece of tree and preparing for that oh so important final, ask yourself, “How much does this final affect my future?”

Although a large factor in a student’s future, a final exam does not have nearly the impact on the future of both students and the greater community as a midterm election.

Lady Gaga can shape our future in terms of what we will be wearing or playing on our iPods. When it comes to the essential human needs such as food and shelter, she can’t do much. Unfortunately, politicians do not always have everybody’s best interest at heart, and your best interest could be extremely different from Snooki’s best interest. Don’t let shady politicians take advantage of your lack of attention; look them up and be critical of what they stand for. And although most have Facebook pages, it might be best to turn to another source for election research.

The Oak Leaf strongly encourages all eligible voters to cast their ballots in this election. It is not enough to just go out and vote. It is important to be an informed voter. While it may not sound fun to read all the legal jargon in each proposition, we broke it down on pages 12 and 13 in a way that gets to the core of each proposition and how it will affect students directly.

Voting is the most important thing we can do as Americans, and as college students it is one of the only ways we are heard. We are the future leaders, educators and entrepreneurs, and we should be paying attention to and having a say in the changes that will shape our future world.