OUR VIEW: ASUSU officers year in review

If you’re not a well-read individual who stockpiles backdated issues of The Statesman as reference materials for any quandaries you might have, it’s easy to jump to conclusions about many things, buying into a slew of misinformation.

Let’s be honest, it’s easy to do this even if you have archives to consult.

If you’re a follower of student government, you likely researched the spring 2012 candidates, analyzing and poring over words and promises that either sent voters running to the booths or caused them to put an X by the name of any other person running for office.

At first glance, some of the 2012-2013 ASUSU Executive Council officers don’t appear to have accomplished much – at least, not many of the goals comprising their platforms. After all, no Minor in Leadership was established for USU students chomping at the bit for a future in business management or politics.

But was that goal, as proposed by Academic Senate President Jordan Carl Hunt, really important to the majority of students in the long run? Some would give a definitive “yes,” but we would merely shake our heads at that notion.

Soon after taking office, Hunt became aware of the impracticality of focusing efforts on something that would only benefit a select group of students rather than the majority. And while he doesn’t refute the minor would be a good addition to USU, he realized his energy would be better spent working on changes affecting all students – such as improving the Academic Senate’s abilities to provide scholarships to returning students and making improvements to campus classrooms.

Other officers ran on platforms so broad they were self-fulfilling prophecies. ASUSU President Christian Thrapp said he’d be the voice of students while creating a better college experience and remaining fiscally responsible. Sure, that sounds good, but isn’t it a variance on any politician’s promises?

Looking back, it appears Thrapp didn’t know what he wanted to do as president. But he did a lot by pounding the pavement and having real interactions with students. He did more by delegating duties to ASUSU officers working alongside him and making sure they were responsible with students’ money.

Before you criticize this year’s officers, stop and take a closer look. Don’t pick over what they promised to do. Look at what they actually did and realize much more was accomplished – both in substance and legacy.