Today, after many long months of frenzied campaigning, Election Day is upon us. By tomorrow morning, there will be a new president-elect of the United States. This race promises to be one of the closest in history. It will certainly be the most competitive contest since the epic 1960 battle between John F. Kennedy '40 and Richard M. Nixon.

And so, at such an important time in this nation's history, we urge the American people to abandon the apathy that has been increasing for years. Instead of leaving the destiny of the country in the hands of others, take an active role in the process yourselves. Voting is your civic obligation, but it goes far beyond that. There is a great deal at stake in this election.

Young voters, who have historically felt most alienated from the political system, will perhaps be most affected by this race. The nation is undeniably at a crossroads. The Cold War has been over for a decade, but the U.S. has yet to assert itself in any definitive global role. This election, more than anything else, will determine that role for many years to come.

The two major candidates have sharply differing perspectives regarding America's involvement in world affairs. Vice President Al Gore '69 espouses a vision of America as a vocal and active member of the community of nations. Texas Gov. George W. Bush has taken a much more isolationist approach, saying that the U.S. must only intervene in outside affairs when it is in America's direct national interest.

On domestic issues, the candidates also diverge on important points. Bush favors the partial privatization of Social Security; Gore's plan is much less radical. Gore favors targeted tax cuts, while Bush touts a large across-the-board tax cut. And of course, the next President will have the opportunity to appoint several new Supreme Court justices.

This election will also gauge the support for Ralph Nader's Green Party, the haven of disgruntled die-hard liberals. Like Ross Perot in 1992, Nader has the potential to make a significant impact on the race. While he has his eye on the five-percent mark, others will be watching to see how much he detracts from Gore in key battleground states.

However you feel about the candidates and these issues, now is the last chance to express your feelings. The next Congressional election is two years away; the next Presidential contest twice as far. The candidates have crisscrossed the nation giving speeches, creating proposals on every contentious issue and spending a fortune on advertising over the last year trying to earn your vote. The decision that we make today will determine the course of this nation.

So, finally, all the polls, pundits and predictions no longer matter. Only the judgment of the American people remains to determine the next President of the United States.