COLUMN: I’ve heard enough about elections
Heard enough about elections? Me too
Having worked on student government campaigns for the last three years, and actually running for office this year, I have heard all the complaints from both sides about how our elections are run.
It’s sad the process in which we pick our leaders has reduced itself to who has the cutest cape, the dumbest costume, the most noticeable sign or the best coupons; but there’s a reason for that – it works.
During the primary election, a reception was held on the bottom floor of the Taggart Student Center. It was meant to be an opportunity for students to meet and learn about the candidates for all the offices, but it turned into a cramped hallway of students running as fast as they can to escape the lines of people passing out flyers, yelling slogans and offering candy. I’m sorry that was what happened, but candidates have to get people’s attention in order to get their message out. And if that’s the only way to do it, nothing will ever change.
Two nights during that week, candidates were allowed to go door-to-door through the dorms, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., to speak to students about their campaigns. I realize after the first dozen people come knock on your door it gets annoying, but when there’s only eight total hours allotted to get to every student on campus, everyone has to do it at the same time. Perhaps in the future the election process should be given a longer period of time, like a month, with different offices being allowed to campaign each night. That way, there won’t be dozens of people knocking on doors in a row.
That’s the same reason candidates couldn’t always make it to every room themselves. I heard a lot of students comment on not getting to meet the person actually running, but some of their friends who went around for them. I completely agree that someone shouldn’t be expected to vote for someone they can’t meet; but again, eight hours is not enough time to get to every room, especially when you take off-campus housing into consideration.
If you didn’t want to be bothered at home, housing provided signs for residents to put on their doors, which indicate a room that isn’t to be knocked on. This is why RHSA held a candidates forum in the Lundstrom Center during that week, so students could get beyond all the annoying campaigning and actually listen to the issues and platforms. The room was practically empty, and almost all of the people who were there were people who were working on campaigns.
There are a lot of things that affect all of us, that will change next year – and every year – depending on who is elected. It is more than just what band will play at the Howl. It is decisions on tuition increases, a new recreation center, decisions on where our money goes and other issues that directly relate to everyone.
Next year, if you want our leaders to be stuck in high school politics and win a popularity contest; go ahead, sit back and do nothing, because it will happen on its own. If you want it to actually be about the important issues, and have qualified, informed adults representing you, pay attention and challenge the candidates by listening and asking questions.