OUR VIEW: Don’t complain if you won’t contribute

In the Brutally Honest Forum on Wednesday, three students stepped forward with concerns for the ASUSU Executive Council. Either the council is doing a great job or the student body isn’t paying attention. We’re inclined to think both statements are true.
   
After spending a few years with college students in Cache Valley, some of us at The Statesman have noticed a few trends. Every year around this time, the weather gets cold. It’s not uncommon for the first snow of the year to hit in October, yet every year someone starts howling like the sky is falling when it does. Complaining seems to be part of human nature – or, at least, part of our culture. We understand how easy it is to complain about weather, professors, jobs, the newspaper or student government. Unlike the weather, however, students can improve student government with a little more involvement.
   
It’s easy to complain about the American political system. We have two ever-diverging parties, super-PACs and democratic representatives beholden not only to voters, but to the companies that buy votes. What reason do we, as USU students have to resent our leaders if we don’t give them feedback?
   
In nearly every interview and Executive Council meeting we can recall, ASUSU leaders discuss ways to get students more involved with student government and its projects throughout the university. Christian Orr, ASUSU student advocate, started the USU Think Tank but has since said he wishes more students would volunteer to take on the projects the new program has created. Most of these projects are well thought out and have the potential to improve lives, but only if enough people can help them get started.
   
The current ASUSU administration has done a pretty good job, but there’s room for improvement. Each student who voices a concern or volunteers for a few hours can make an improvement to our campus, our school and our erstwhile home in northern Utah.