OUR VIEW: Cook resignation makes one wonder

Josh Cook waited about 24 hours too long to make the announcement that he was withdrawing from the ASUSU presidential race.

In the past, ASUSU has probably deserved the benefit of the doubt, but this reinforces the opinion of many on campus that student govenment is a joke.

While Cook was looking out for his own well-being – and apparently the well-being of a special girl in his life – it doesn’t seem like he was worried about too many other people.

Mike Robins, Brigham Rupp, and Scott Paul would love to have taken the position as Les Essig’s opponent but can’t now because the time-shortened process won’t let them.

Hundreds of people have spent thousands of hours organizing meetings, debates and campaigns only to have it all come to a seemingly abrupt end.

While Essig may be qualified enough for the position, should he get into office practically uncontested? He has in his platform some changes that he would like to see happen which may not be ideal for the student body. “No Friday” class schedules, for example, may not be the best answer, but now there isn’t another opinion on the ballot to contest that.

This year, Essig and Cook most likely weren’t in cahoots from the beginning, but what kind of precedent does this set for elections in the future? Two candidates just run “against each other,” take most of the votes and then have one drop out to confirm the seat for the other. Pretty simple.

Come on, ASUSU, let’s rethink this one-week campaign. Students deserve candidates who are serious about Utah State. Otherwise, it is all just a big waste of time.