From the Editor

In a world inundated with national and international news, why should we care about local events? Why should we care about a school talent show when American Idol shows us performers from across the U.S.? Why should we care about a neighborhood bake sale or the latest gallery exhibit when scores of innocent Pakistani citizens have been murdered in a brutal terrorist attack?

We live in an age in which time can feel like our scarcest resource. We also have near-constant access to a flood of information—a Google search for “U.S. federal election” returns over 23 million results. And, thanks to the internet and social media, online communities can feel just as real to us as the communities we physically inhabit. So how much time should we devote to understanding events in our local communities?

The answer will look different for different people, but at The Forum, we believe that local events are worth our time and effort. Often the events that impact our lives the most  happen closest to home: potholes in the street, zoning laws that determine where we can and cannot build homes, spring break dates, property tax rates—these decisions take place at the state and local level. When we vote in local and state elections, we are voting on whether Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall should put up security cameras, or whether the statue of Robert E. Lee should remain in Lee Park.

These questions matter, and we have a voice in deciding the answers. Of course, national and international events are important, but  let us also remember to make an impact in the places where we live, work and study. Plug in to what is happening in your neighborhood and on PVCC campus! We are here to help you in that mission.