Dear Patriots,

The news these days is often depressing. It can be difficult and emotionally draining to keep up with the political world. However, I would assert that staying politically active is one of the most important things you can do.

Every part of our lives is political, whether you want it to be or not. The school you go to, the rent you pay, the car you drive, even the food you eat — every single thing you do is affected by local, national and international politics.

The midterm elections are coming up in about a month. If you haven’t already registered to vote, make sure you do so by the deadline on Oct. 15. Even if you’re an out-of-state student, you can register to vote on campus.

These elections may be the most important in a very long time. The governors, representatives and senators that are elected or re-elected in November will decide whether Congress continues business as usual or completely switches course on President Trump (something that should matter to both liberals and conservatives).

As for coping with the atrocities in the daily news, I find that it helps to stay informed and talk about it with other people. Finding someone to complain or discuss with can be a big stress reliever.

Check out our piece on the #MeToo movement in the Opinions section, our cover feature on CAPS in Culture, our coverage of Panhellenic and Mason LIFE in News, and our athlete profiles in Sports. There are a lot of important stories in this issue.

Stay vigilant, and most importantly, stay active in your community.

Sincerely,

Alexander Shedd

Editor-In-Chief