GUEST OPINION, May 24
By: Robert D. Biederman
If Princeton students took an interest in borough matters and voted in every election, they would be able to control town politics. In non-presidential years, the turnout in borough elections can be as low as 1,000 residents. As few as 300 votes can decide an election. The 1,700 Princeton students registered as voters in Princeton Borough could thus be a powerful force in local elections. Very few students, however, will ever vote in a non-presidential year. To say that Princeton students are uninterested in borough politics would be a severe understatement.
There are a few issues, however, that can arouse student excitement about a local election. One such issue is the potential alcohol ordinance, which would allow borough police to enter the Prospect Avenue eating clubs under suspicion of underage drinking. Evan Baehr, the 2004 Borough Council Republican candidate and a Princeton University senior, knew exactly how students would feel about this proposed legislation and did his best to exploit it.
Mr. Baehr correctly foresaw a high resident turnout of infrequent voters for the hotly contested presidential election. Knowing that he could not win without strong student turnout, he energized his peers by focusing his campaign on the alcohol ordinance. He marketed himself on campus as someone who would protect student interests by fighting this law in the Borough Council. This tactic gave many students more than enough reason to vote.
We should vote. The university is the town’s largest employer and property-holder, and is much of Princeton Borough’s raison d’etre. The students of Princeton constitute a significant portion of the electorate, yet find no representation on the Borough Council. More than just being fair for reasons of equal representation, having a student on the Borough Council would be immensely positive for the often-strained "town-gown" relationship. The school, if represented, would be more comfortable with the council’s decisions. Because salaried university employees are barred from the Borough Council, a student may very well be the best choice.
Yes, a student would represent student interests rather than necessarily university ones. Often, though, our interests are the administration’s. What is good for the university, generally, is beneficial for students.
The Borough Council controls zoning regulations, for instance, and Princeton is constantly upgrading its facilities. The council’s ability to tie the university’s hands on building projects is a powerful one. A student on the council would help equalize the power imbalance and would smooth things over during the approval process. The university would be happier, and a content university is better for the town.
A partisan six-person council has run Princeton Borough for too long. The council needs a new voice, especially one that represents the university. Evan Baehr tried to be this voice. He did not win, but in capturing 24 percent of the vote, he showed that a student might stand a chance in a non-presidential year. This would be a positive for the university and for the town, and should be embraced and encouraged by both parties.
Robert D. Biederman just completed his freshman year at Princeton University.

