The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper:
"This past winter, 200 students from Waymarsh State College traveled to the state capitol building to protest against proposed cuts in funding for various state college programs. The other 12,000 Waymarsh students evidently weren't so concerned about their education: they either stayed on campus or left for winter break. Since the group who did not protest is far more numerous, it is more representative of the state's college students than are the protesters. Therefore the state legislature need not heed the appeals of the protesting students."
The argument above is trying to prove that since far less students protested against the proposed cuts the state legislature need not heed the appeal. This argument is flawed. There are many reasons why the majority of the students from Waymarsh State College may not have attended the protest including financial reasons or travel plans. The representation of the students from the programs that are included in the cuts may have been the majority and other college students may have attended the protest.
Although only 200 students out of 12,000 students from Waymarsh State College attended the protest, it is possible the majority of students could not have been financially able to travel to the state capitol building to protest against the proposed cuts. The argument does not state how far the capitol building is away from campus. This could greatly impact the financial burden placed on a student to attend the protest. The protest was also during winter break. Many students could have travel plans already scheduled for the break. The student may not be able to cancel or rearrange the travel accomedations without incuring nonrefundable fees. If the students are away from their home and family, this may be extremely hard for the student to turn down an opportunity to see their family and friends when traveling will not be an option until the next break. Although 12,000 students did not attend the protest, this does not conclude that those students were not concerned about the funding cuts.
There is no evidence to whether there were other actions taken from the students that were unable to attend the protest. There may have been a petition that was signed by the majority of the students sent to the state capitol. Other forms of protest are possible other than physically going to the state capitol building on winter break.
Furthermore, the argument above only shows information about the Waymarsh State Collge. Other colleges in the state could be affected by the proposed cuts in funding. It is possible that a large percentage of students from other colleges attended the protest. Without any information about other protesters, it is impossible to determine whether the protest was representative of all students impacted.
In addition to the attendance information from other colleges, it is important to determine which programs would be affected by the funding cuts. Although there are 12,200 students at Waymarsh State College, it is possible only a small fraction of those are in a program that would be affected. If only Arts programs receive the funding cut, students taking a course in Engineering or Computer Science would not be affected. The students in the science based classes should not be included in the total number of affected students. If only 250 students are in a program that would be affected in Waymarsh State College and the 200 students that attended the protest are included in a program that would be affected, a very large percentage of the affected students attended the protest.
If the argument gave more information about how many students at Waymarsh State College would be affected by the funding cuts, this would show whether the number of students that attended the protest is actually representative. Without any information about pre-booked travel accomedations or the cost of attended the protest, it is impossible to determine whether it is financially possible to expect all concerned students to attend. In addition to more information about Waymarsh State College students, there is no information about students from other colleges to determine if there was a representative number of students in attendance to the number of students affected.
The argument above is flawed in its current state. The argument doesn't give enough information to conclude that the state legislature shouldn't listen to the protesting students argument. It is possible there were many students in attendance from other colleges or that students from Waymarsh State College were unable to attend even though they were concerned. The argument also gives no information to determine whether the student attendance was representative to the number of students to be affected by the proposed funding cuts.
"This past winter, 200 students from Waymarsh State College traveled to the state capitol building to protest against proposed cuts in funding for various state college programs. The other 12,000 Waymarsh students evidently weren't so concerned about their education: they either stayed on campus or left for winter break. Since the group who did not protest is far more numerous, it is more representative of the state's college students than are the protesters. Therefore the state legislature need not heed the appeals of the protesting students."
The argument above is trying to prove that since far less students protested against the proposed cuts the state legislature need not heed the appeal. This argument is flawed. There are many reasons why the majority of the students from Waymarsh State College may not have attended the protest including financial reasons or travel plans. The representation of the students from the programs that are included in the cuts may have been the majority and other college students may have attended the protest.
Although only 200 students out of 12,000 students from Waymarsh State College attended the protest, it is possible the majority of students could not have been financially able to travel to the state capitol building to protest against the proposed cuts. The argument does not state how far the capitol building is away from campus. This could greatly impact the financial burden placed on a student to attend the protest. The protest was also during winter break. Many students could have travel plans already scheduled for the break. The student may not be able to cancel or rearrange the travel accomedations without incuring nonrefundable fees. If the students are away from their home and family, this may be extremely hard for the student to turn down an opportunity to see their family and friends when traveling will not be an option until the next break. Although 12,000 students did not attend the protest, this does not conclude that those students were not concerned about the funding cuts.
There is no evidence to whether there were other actions taken from the students that were unable to attend the protest. There may have been a petition that was signed by the majority of the students sent to the state capitol. Other forms of protest are possible other than physically going to the state capitol building on winter break.
Furthermore, the argument above only shows information about the Waymarsh State Collge. Other colleges in the state could be affected by the proposed cuts in funding. It is possible that a large percentage of students from other colleges attended the protest. Without any information about other protesters, it is impossible to determine whether the protest was representative of all students impacted.
In addition to the attendance information from other colleges, it is important to determine which programs would be affected by the funding cuts. Although there are 12,200 students at Waymarsh State College, it is possible only a small fraction of those are in a program that would be affected. If only Arts programs receive the funding cut, students taking a course in Engineering or Computer Science would not be affected. The students in the science based classes should not be included in the total number of affected students. If only 250 students are in a program that would be affected in Waymarsh State College and the 200 students that attended the protest are included in a program that would be affected, a very large percentage of the affected students attended the protest.
If the argument gave more information about how many students at Waymarsh State College would be affected by the funding cuts, this would show whether the number of students that attended the protest is actually representative. Without any information about pre-booked travel accomedations or the cost of attended the protest, it is impossible to determine whether it is financially possible to expect all concerned students to attend. In addition to more information about Waymarsh State College students, there is no information about students from other colleges to determine if there was a representative number of students in attendance to the number of students affected.
The argument above is flawed in its current state. The argument doesn't give enough information to conclude that the state legislature shouldn't listen to the protesting students argument. It is possible there were many students in attendance from other colleges or that students from Waymarsh State College were unable to attend even though they were concerned. The argument also gives no information to determine whether the student attendance was representative to the number of students to be affected by the proposed funding cuts.
