Opinion

The potential influence of the youth vote has been a recurring theme in this year's election, but the question is whether young voters will materialize on Election Day. The idea of a massive youth turnout is nothing new. This year, though, the implications of a no-show from young voters will be dramatic.

If there is one thing that irritates me more than the thought of a glorified hockey mom being a heartbeat away from the presidency, it's the assertion that your vote doesn't matter. And by you, I mean the voting demographic ages 18 to 24. Because, my friends, it actually does.

This past summer, the oddest thing happened to me. (Beside that time I woke up in the middle of Pasadena with a dead dingo in my arm and a backwards B drawn on my face). While checking my e-mail one morning, I received this letter from a guy named Mike. It read: "Hey Lynn, I read your articles every now and then, and I don't even go to UC Davis.... Are you on Okcupid? Some 20-year-old girl named Sammi has been posting your articles as her own, and now all these guys are all about it. I stumbled across her and started reading, then dejavu settled..."

The Cal Aggie Christian Association has long fought for the expansion of civil rights. We fought for racial equality at Selma. During the Vietnam era, we helped students facing the draft. We fought for women's rights and access to birth control. And now we must speak out for our LGBT community.

Legislating criminal justice policy through balloting like what Propositions 6 and 9 propose is unnecessary and costly. Not only do both propositions come at a great cost to the state general fund, but this cost is likely to be transferred to agencies like the University of California. If approved by the voters on Nov. 4, these propositions will cost upwards of $1.5 billion.

Twentieth century philosopher Albert Camus once concluded that "there is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide."

Today, as voters examine some of our state's more costly propositions, it would appear as if California has come to terms with the futility of its existence and stands only moments away from choking back the barrel of a gun.

With Halloween just behind us and the winter holidays fast approaching, I find myself thinking back to when I was a little girl, to the days of pigtails and sleepovers.

I'm not sure what triggered this attack of nostalgia, but it made me realize that I want to spend some time remembering, and even reliving my childhood.

The intention of this column at the outset of the school year was to report and inform regarding events and trends in the world of journalism. Last week was supposed to be a one-time blip on the radar, a brief detour from our regularly scheduled program. Given that Tuesday is Election Day, however (P.S.: Remember to vote), I feel an obligation to use this space for the common good. Vote no on Proposition 8. That's really as simple as the message gets. Voting yes on Prop 8 affirms that bigotry and discrimination have a place in our society at a time when nothing should be further from the truth.

Twenty-three months and $1.5 billion dollars worth of campaigning has come to a head and is about to burst. But rather than urge you to take part in the popping of this political pimple by voting for one candidate or another, I'm going to do the opposite; I'm going to urge you to stay home.

I was sitting at lunch with the applicants for Teach for America when it struck me that I was surrounded by an amazing group of people. I knew that the organization designed to serve the underprivileged children of America by giving them the education they deserve is great, but I had never taken time to think about the individuals involved. These people are good to the core. Not only do they care about closing the achievement gap, but they care about people in general.

1. The wasteful donut

Ever wonder why donut places offer you one free donut with a purchase of a dozen donuts? What additional satisfaction does the customer get with one extra 13th donut? In my local bakery, a dozen donuts cost me $6.00 and a single donut costs 75 cents. The customer's value on the donut decreases with every additional donut.

For an election season that has lasted two years - with candidates firstly and formally entering the race, then campaigning and fundraising, persisting through the primaries, accepting party nominations and now, reaching the final stages of the general election - the experience is presumably a draining one.

There's a measure on your ballot that doesn't require hours of pouring over confusing language or a legal expert to figure out … It's called Measure W.

Clear and straightforward, if you support science, math, English, foreign language, music, social studies, librarians, athletics, debate, journalism, and the teachers who enliven the minds of our next generation, then you support Measure W. The choice is clear.

Proposition 1A: Yes.

This initiative will unite the state, reduce fossil fuel emissions and help take the burden off of California's already notoriously over-crowded highways. Establishing high-speed rail is an unprecedented step forward in finding alternative forms of transportation for Californians. Though this is an expensive bond measure, the end result is well worth the cost.

October's winding down, the leaves are crisping, and school is kicking my ass. It's like a fat, freckled bully shoving a nerd against the wall and stealing his lunch money in third grade. My room is also littered with tissues and cough drop wrappers. I'm told that my raspy transvestite voice is sexy and that I should appreciate it. I do, though I'd rather be through with the hacking up of my lungs. Seriously, kids, do not sit next to me in class.