More Input From the College Press

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"There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down."

Buffalo Springfield

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As we approach the eve of the election, more college newspapers are standing up and expressing their preference in the presidential race.

I'm pleased to see more and more college newspapers promoting democratic activity. Young people have a lot at stake in every election.

I've seen one of those newspapers that supports the candidacy of John McCain:

• Ole Miss' Daily Mississippian.

But most support Barack Obama and his message of change:

• The University of Arizona's Daily Wildcat.


• Eastern Illinois University's Daily Eastern News.


• Northern Illinois University's Northern Star.


• The University of Illinois' Daily Illini.


• Indiana University's Indiana Daily Student.


• Iowa State University's Iowa State Daily.


• The University of Kansas' University Daily Kansan.


• Tufts University's Tufts Daily.


• Michigan State University's State News.


• The University of Michigan's Michigan Daily.


• Ohio University's The Post.


• Kent State University's Daily Kent Stater.


• The University of Oklahoma's Oklahoma Daily.


• The University of Pennsylvania's Daily Pennsylvanian.


• The University of Pittsburgh's Pitt News.


• The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Daily Cardinal.


• The University of Wisconsin's Badger Herald.


• Stetson University's The Reporter.


• The University of Louisville's Louisville Cardinal.


• The University of Missouri's The Maneater.

The Flyer News of Dayton University declined to endorse a candidate. But it encouraged its readers to vote.

"[C]hoose for yourself and exercise your right as an American," the newspaper said. "Be a part of 'The Year of the Youth Vote.' Now that's a movement we'll endorse."

So will I.

Taking a Principled Stand

We are a few days away from the finish line of what has been the longest, most engrossing national campaign in America's history.

As such, we have been witnessing a flurry of last-minute editorial activity as newspapers take sides, endorsing either Barack Obama or John McCain.

A few days ago, I wrote about the need for college newspapers to get involved and to encourage political participation by the young. I was gratified to see a number of endorsement editorials popping up on college newspaper web sites in recent days, and I hope that inspires young people to vote.

But, occasionally, I run across a college newspaper like the Loyola Phoenix of Loyola University in Chicago.

The editors of the Phoenix apparently gave the matter a great deal of thought, then decided not to endorse anyone because to do so would suggest an absence of objectivity. And that would damage their ability to report the news.

I commend the editors for taking a principled stand.

I might have been inclined to dismiss it as a cop-out if not for the final sentence in the editorial:

"The only thing we endorse is voting."