We have officially reached issue two, I sure hope you’re all still with me. This week I have a very special topic to discuss. It is one that has become more relevant due to recent events on campus: a recent influx of those happy-go-lucky little munchkins known as petitioners.

I’m sure you’ve all seen them, lurking in the shadows on campus. Waiting, watching, just hoping that you’ll give them but a moment in which to sign their golden sheet of paper.

But have you ever thought about just what it is that drives these people? What hidden motivation might they have for us?

Recently on campus, there was a petitioner standing outside of Building 2. This gentleman (if I can call him such) was very much in favor of banning illegal aliens from possessing one of the things widely coveted by 16-year-olds across the country: a driver’s license.

Why he was so against it is beyond my understanding, but as far as I could tell, he wasn’t the only one. However, his right to freedom of speech allowed him to be there, and, as it would happen, most people didn’t really mind or care.

The only problem with this scenario came from his inability to extend the same rights to others as he held for himself.

I apologize if I’m being too cryptic, so let it stand to say that if you were to ask this individual any questions about what you were signing, or if you were to attempt to read any of the information on his table that he did not hand-pick for you to see, then you would be very disappointed and perhaps even offended by his tactless and rude behavior. Not only that, he would not even have let you see the information.

Now, to be very clear, this is not information being related from personal experience, and I don’t want to lose credibility by refusing to name my sources. I will say that anyone who thinks it is important enough to hear from the sources themselves can send us an e-mail and you can speak directly to those people. For now, I think I’ll give them their privacy and leave names out.

The point I am trying to get across is not about this specific individual, however, my problem is that schools such as Skyline College are platforms through which any individual or group may be present and solicit whatever information they choose. However, when someone attempts to mislead the public by withholding information, and being all-around suspicious, they have no place here.

Now, I will concede that this may very well be simply a series of misunderstandings. However, the point still stands that there are people who do this everyday. Spreading false information and attempting to deceive the public in order to fuel their own questionable cause is just a method to achieve one’s own personal goals.

So, if you walk away with anything from this column (besides a confused look on your face and perhaps a sore neck), learn to question those who ask for your signature. As a citizen of these United States, your opinion is a more powerful weapon than any that the military could supply, and it should not be used lighty.