The Stanford community stays consistently engaged in national political issues. Almost every day, conversations break out in dining halls, on email lists and in classes exploring current events and debating national issues. Members of the Stanford community come from all over the United States and the globe, and many remain well-informed on the issues facing the various places that they call home. Yet as California approaches the primaries this June–and elections in November–many members of the Stanford community may find the campus suspiciously quiet on the issues and candidates of this election.

The Editorial Board understands that many members of the Stanford community will not be voting in California come election day this year. But we implore every member of the Stanford community to stay aware of the challenges facing California in the coming years. Even though many students may only be here for a brief time, they will forever be members of the Stanford community. Stanford’s future is inextricably linked to the future of California, and this is an important year for the state of California.

Many of you are aware of the financial turmoil that California is currently engulfed in, and reducing the state’s deficit will be one of the most significant challenges that California has ever faced. There are many important projects that could end up casualties in the battle to balance the California budget. Altogether, the decisions of the coming election could have long-term repercussions for the state. California has been a global leader in the movement for sustainability, and it will be difficult in light of the financial crisis that the state is in to continue this progress.

There are very important ballot initiatives this fall in California, most importantly a referendum to delay Assembly Bill 32, and thus delay California’s committed action against climate change. While large corporations such as Valero use out-of-state resources to create policies in California that will halt the state’s progress towards sustainability, Stanford students can be “out-of-state” resources for California as well. By being engaged and helping to spread the word on these issues, we can call help the state of California a great deal without even voting.

For those students who will be living in California for longer and plan to vote in this election, the gubernatorial election is sure to be one of the most important in California’s history. We know that the Stanford community will stay informed and help this state to recover and continue to push forward.