A dual set of experiences last week reminded me that our elected leaders ultimately represent us and must serve our desires and interests.Last week, I attended a meeting between students and University President Jehuda Reinharz during which students protested how Reinharz decided to arm campus police. While Reinharz had what he perceived as students' interests in mind, he ultimately seems to be disregarding them. In contrast, a Brandeis for Barack trip to a New Hampshire children's fair to meet Michelle Obama reminded me of the influential role constituents should play in American politics.

Reinharz, during the meeting with Students Against the Decision to Arm, stated that student opinion was not relevant in coming to the arming decision. He emphasized that he could have reached his decision without even the token level of student representation that was present on the firearms advisory committee that recommended Reinharz to arm. He speoke about how mixed student reaction over potentially arming officers in 1995 in part led him to decide against arming. This time would be different; this time, he would act decisively.

This emphasis on autonomy is clearly justified because Reinharz is unaccountable to the student body. We only impact him peripherally when our protests perhaps attract media attention or influence donor influx. Student satisfaction does not factor into our school's rank in U.S. News and World Report, and it doesn't impact University fundraising. What is beneficial to the students, it seems, is not even close to the top of Reinharz's list of priorities.

It is clear that his constituents are elsewhere. Professors matter somewhat, and therefore, Reinharz sometimes addresses the faculty during monthly meeting. But really, donors are the main source of judgment. For this reason, donors have been able to influence the administration to act against student interest. The near scuttling of former President Jimmy Carter's visit last year, which brought recognition and praise to the institution is just one of the instances that can only be understood through this lens.

Still, while our impact on campus policies is depressingly limited, the potential impact individuals, especially students, can have on their elected officials is beyond measure. New Hampshire residents, because of their early primary position, have evolved into some of the most demanding and critical voters in the country. They expect personal interaction with the candidates and are used to repeated campaign calls and door knocks from the candidate's campaigners. Yet the rest of the country seems willing to settle for subpar and detached 30 second debate sound clips and half-baked commercials.

This does not have to be the case. Interacting directly with candidates for political office reveals a few things: They are flawed and imperfect individuals just like each of us. Moreover, even if they may be especially talented or inspiring leaders, they are nothing without voters' consent. It is voters who elevate them to their positions of power and give them their taxpayer-funded salaries.

I had a very revealing conversation with a friend a few weeks ago about the nature of representation in government. She said we should give absolute deference to our elected officials because they are carrying out the difficult task of leadership. My friend moved to the United States a few years ago after spending most of her life in Russia, a top down and leader-driven society. I countered that the force that has kept our nation free and well guided has been the agitation by citizens who place pressure on elected officials to listen to them.

When a president holds the approval of only 24 percent of his country or Republican congressmen continue to block even basic legislation that the nation voted for in 2006, we must demand better. We cannot afford to speak to our congressmen in hushed voices, but must instead order our elected representatives to take action for us. Speaking with our votes is a start, but we must go beyond that. Passively going to the polls will not enact the change that the American people must seek.

We should make phone calls, write letters and massively demonstrate at the offices of our congressmen. Attracting the attention of media through sit-ins and an unwillingness to take no for an answer is essential. If Reinharz, an unrepresentative leader, felt compelled to show some level deference to a large demonstration of students demanding answers, how much more so would our national leaders who actually depend on our dollars and our votes.