With the wave of petitioners on campus, controversial issues seem inescapable for students and staff at Cosumnes River College. However, seasonal signature gatherer Sam Gray, 33, said they are here to stay. "I am here because I feel everyone should be able to vote on initiatives," he said. "It's about what California believes." Well-known controversial initiative measures that were petitioned on campus include Proposition 8, which is a constitutional amendment, and the legalization of marijuana, which is a general initiative. Some students steer clear of petitioners or submit complaints to the school about their distaste for petitioners. One student, whom is strongly against the legalization of marijuana, feels petitioners shouldn't be on campus. "When students sign a marijuana petition, it's that much closer to being legalized," said 24-year-old math major Jeremiah Lowes. However, Gray disagreed. "This is not voting, A lot of people get confused," he said. "When a registered voter signs these, it gives us one more signature towards submission to the Secretary of State, so that everybody can vote on it in the next election, which is in June," Gray said. When a certain amount of people sign an initiative measure at a table, such as the initiative measure on the legalization and taxation of marijuana, it becomes recognized by the Secretary of State because there is strong interest about the issue from the public. "Signing it is only one step in the process of getting the initiative on the ballot," explained Gray. That initiative measure then becomes a proposition, which makes its way on the ballot to be voted on. Because of this, Gray considers his approach to be non-partisan, he said. However, students on campus have their own reasons to sign the initiative measures. "Ninety percent of people sign because they agree with what they're signing," Gray said, adding that he estimates another 5 percent just sign anything that is out here, and the remaining 5 percent sign because they know petitioners make money from each signature. Each initiative measure or proposition has its own money value, depending on its location and what issue it addresses. The three general initiative measures that were on campus on Nov. 23 were the legalization of marijuana, the redistribution of congressional districts and an initiative that would offer discounts to drivers with a clean record from car insurance companies. The first two pay 70 cents and the last one pays $1.25 per signature. "We are only paid for valid signatures from registered voters," said Gray. "All of the signatures are checked twice to be sure that only registered voters are signing the petitions."
Students take initiative by signing petitions
Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Updated: Monday, April 19, 2010 03:04
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