Guest Column: A message from USUSA President Sami Ahmed

In 2019, I was participating in my first USUSA election and I had an interaction with a student I often reflect on. I approached this particular student and asked for his vote to which he responded with, “student elections don’t matter, and I won’t waste time in a useless vote.” I was annoyed with his response, but I found a part of me agreeing with him.

Now after spending two years in student government, I see the flaw in that student’s statement. I wish I could have conveyed to that individual the level of power and influence elected USUSA officers have.

Election week is upon us and for most students USUSA elections are closely associated with candidates harassing them around campus in the cold. Most try to avoid rival opponents vying for their attention as they do their best to make it to class without making eye contact. Students might be able to avoid election week, but the impact elected officers will have can never be avoided. I urge students to resist the natural instinct to avoid and engage with candidates and vote for those with the best platforms.

You might ask, why are USUSA elections so crucial and why should students care and vote? Like it or not student officers are the voice of students to the rest of Utah State University and the community at large. Officer opinions, thoughts, and campaign goals shape the direction of student life at USU. For example, the USUSA Student Body President is a voting member of the Utah State University Board of Trustees. Often other trustees look to the USUSA President to convey overall student feeling and opinion on a matter before taking a vote or making policy recommendations on a particular issue involving students.

The person students elect for USUSA President will have a direct impact on what the Board of Trustees hear as the student opinion. The President is just one example; all other officers will have a significant impact in their own spheres of influence. It is worthwhile to take your time and vote for those you feel comfortable with making decisions on your behalf. 

All students who attend USU are funding USUSA student government through student fees. Most of the scholarships officers receive and the budgets they are allocated come from individual students pockets. Similar to paying local, state, and federal taxes by virtue of being a citizen of a given country, attending USU comes with a cost of paying student fees. Just like a citizen of a country may vote to put in lawmakers to be stewards of taxes, USU students can vote in officers to be stewards of fees.

Essentially every student is directly supporting every elected and appointed officer financially. Additionally, you might wonder who makes the recommendations to decrease or increase student fees to the President of USU and the Board of Trustees? The student fee board which is almost entirely composed of elected student officers vote to recommend increasing or decreasing fees. Every officer on the board is responsible for holding each fee receiving area accountable with the allocated portion of student fees and reporting to the board. 

Lastly, I want to highlight the importance of wide voter participation. Thomas Jefferson said, “We do not have government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate.” A small group of the student population determines which USUSA leaders govern the entire population. If you happen to be a student who is not satisfied or would like to see change, the best way to convey that is by voting and encouraging others in your circles to vote. A motivated small group can have an outside influence over a large apathetic majority.

As long as motivated groups and individuals elect leaders, you can never have a true sense of student sentiment. For this simple fact alone, every student should go out and vote because, like it or not, USUSA determines the direction of student life for the foreseeable future.

Sami Ahmed

USUSA President