OUR VIEW: Election changes enhance process
The way we elect our student government has recently undergone some rule-changes.
We applaud PR director Lacey Nagao and the rest of the council for seeing that things needed to change and taking action.
In our opinion, the changes to campaign rules and voting policies are for the better – the betterment of our student government and the betterment of the democratic process.
With elections for the 2011-12 academic year less than a month away, here’s a little vocab:
ASUSU: Associated Students of Utah State University. It consists of an executive council and senate several officers and committees, both elected and appointed. The appointed positions are filled by those you elect, so make sure you trust the person you put in office.
A-frame: The giant, 3-dimensional sign each candidate is allowed in addition to posters and fliers. Campus will be littered with them, and they will be surrounded by people handing you things and asking you to vote for whoever’s name is on the sign. In the past candidates have coaxed voters to cast their choice at their A-frames with the candidates in question breathing down their neck, this will no longer be allowed.
Dorm-storm: Yes, candidates will still be allowed to campaign at on-campus housing, but with the new rules, door hangers and buttons will be provided to voters who do not wish to be approached by candidates either at home or around campus.
Voting Stations: New with the recent changes, the library and the TSC will now have voting booths set up with impartial attendants who can provide information on candidates.
Other changes include disallowing personal computers at candidates’ A-frames and keeping current ASUSU officers from endorsing candidates. There will also be no grievances filed from one candidate to another, which we hope will keep candidate’s focus on the job they’re running for rather than just discrediting their opponent. Students can still file a complaint if they feel a candidate violates a rule.
Student elections have been somewhat of a joke in years past. With these changes, we believe campaigning will be conducted more ethically and voters will be more educated about their choices though there is still room for improvement.
While it is possible that candidates’ inability to carry laptops whilst dive-bombing freshmen and demanding they “vote-for-me-right-now, click-here” will mean fewer students vote, we’re willing to risk quantity in favor of quality. Listen, ask questions and vote!