The notion that a Board of Trustees member, whose responsibility is to represent the students of UTM and to make decisions concerning them, would discourage students from participating in the process that makes this country what it is today is an outrage.

Barbara Castleman, the Vice-Chairwoman of the Weakley County Republican Party and UT Board of Trustees member, who was appointed by Governor Don Sundquist, is doing just that.

Is it not enough, that the party you represent has driven Tennessee’s economy into the ground, but must you now try and silence the voices of many?

Voting is a freedom that has been fought for since the conception of this great country. Now, 226 years later, freedom finds itself another opponent.

Like those before you, Ms. Castleman, your attempts at discouraging our freedoms will only be in vain. We will be heard, we will vote, and we will send a clear message to anyone who thinks otherwise.

On Nov. 5th, I encourage you all to vote. By voting for Phil Bredesen, Bob Clement, John Tanner and Mark Maddox, we can remove this mentality that only a select few should vote and we can return representation to the people of Tennessee and to the students of UTM.

Michael Baggett is a junior political science major from Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.