For many college students, this is the first presidential election in which we will get to vote. 

Our social media feeds, professors, parents, friends and just about every other influential outlet have urged us to register to vote and show up to the polls Nov. 3 — either in-person or through mail-in ballots.

At Shippensburg University, ShipVotes has worked extremely hard to promote the civic duty on campus and to provide voters with necessary resources, including transportation.

It is important that we educate ourselves on the issues, and not just vote the way our parents or friends vote. We have a voice and our votes will be counted, but only if we vote. 

The way we vote will affect our lives for the next four years and beyond. While one vote may not seem like a lot, it makes a huge difference.

But on Nov. 4, we must remember to be respectful to one another. We must try to back off the edge and get to a place where we can have civil political discourse without fear. 

We must be able to talk to one another, grounded in ethics and standards. There needs to be a marketplace of ideas where we can meet together to build a better future for us all.

We want to be able to hold a conversation with someone who is not like-minded, without shutting the other person down when they say something in which we disagree. We must be respectful of all people — no matter who they are.

While these discussions may be harder to have right now, we need to have human decency and respect for one another. 

We do not always have to agree with one another, but we must make sure that everyone’s human rights are met. 

We must ensure that all people are valued. There are a lot of strong opinions in this election, and there is a lot at stake.

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