Caitlin Tremblay, Campus Editor

            Despite the New York Times being offered free to students, it’s easy to overlook the headlines about issues in other states and say, “How does this affect me?”

            For instance, when the results of the Massachusetts election to replace the late Ted Kennedy came in on Jan. 20, it was easy to brush the news aside and decide it was not worth your time. I’m a college kid… in New York, why should I care about what happens in Massachusetts?

            In all honesty, as caught up on current events as I try to be, I thought that exact same thing… but the more I thought about it the more I realized how important it is – to all of us.

            That’s why today, in our first-ever news column (which may become a weekly installment,) I’m going to explain to my college audience why national events matter. They matter to me, they matter to you, and they matter to the kid dozing off in the back of World Civilizations.

I’m going to tell you what CNN won’t – why you should care. And I’m going to do it in plain English.

            The people in Massachusetts turned out in record numbers on Tuesday for the senate vote.

            Replacing a senator is a big deal, especially one as tenured and experienced as Ted Kennedy was. Think of it this way: Imagine your mother, the rock of your household, was suddenly unable to do so anymore. The responsibility of running things smoothly is given to your father, but he can’t work a dishwasher or turn on the washing machine, and he has never been in a grocery store. Things would go downhill fast unless he gets some help.

            Ted Kennedy is like your mother, and once he was gone the state of Massachusetts had to scramble to come up with a plan and a new election.

            The election came down to two candidates Scott Brown, a Republican, and Democrat Martha Coakley. Brown carried 52 percent of the vote to Coakley’s 47 percent.

            According to CNN reports, Brown’s shocking win was fueled by the 2.1 million independent voters who leaned towards Brown and his political experience.

            Now with Brown about to take his new seat in the Senate, what’s next?

            Well, for college students, homosexuals and a handful of other demographics, this was a huge election. With Brown now occupying a seat in the Senate, the Democrats have lost their filibuster proof majority. This means that important legislation like health care reform and gay marriage could be put on hold for the foreseeable future.

            Any college student who’s graduating in the next two years is in danger of being kicked off of their parents’ health care plan, or if they’re no longer planning on being students they will lose their health insurance completely, leaving them to shop around or go without.

            Homosexuals will probably not receive their right to marriage, and the problem of immigration will continue to be a hot topic of senate debate with no solution in sight.

            Massachusetts might seem like some far away land in New England that most students only learn about when World Civilizations II covers the American Revolution. At the same time, the state’s special senate election affects all of us, and it affects us heavily.

            Obama needed the election of a Democrat to help his heath care and educations reforms pass. Now, these reforms, along with gay marriage and many other pressing issues, are all at risk.

            Now that a Republican is in office, there’s going to be more arguing and less problem solving, which isn’t good for anyone. This is especially true for those of us about to embark on our own out in the post-graduation real world.

            I guess all we do now is wait and see what happens.

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com