Special election will allow voices to be heard in timely manner
The Utah State University Student Association has called a special election to be held Monday-Thursday of next week. The issue to be voted upon: adding the Student Alumni Association President as a member of USUSA’s Executive Council.
The current SAA President, Oakman Kennedy, was appointed. Adding the position to the USUSA EC will allow students to elect a representative who will oversee Aggie alumni relations. If approved, the changes would take effect beginning in the 2016 USUSA Elections, with SAA Vice President as a position for which students may file candidacy and campaign for election by their peers.
USUSA’s view is that the pros of holding this election now outweigh the cons. The election will allow momentum from the last USUSA EC to gain even more traction. It also gives time during the summer months for SAA and USUSA to establish clear roles and responsibilities for those affected by the change. When students return to school in the fall, they won’t have to worry if their views have been forgotten or put on the back burner.
“The more time we have to work on it, the better,” said President Trevor Sean Olsen. “I am in full support of holding the election next week. It may be too late by the time fall semester rolls around to experiment with the addition of this position and fully represent the wishes of the student body.”
The move to add the SAA VP position was suggested in March. It isn’t ideal to hold a special election during finals week, but it was necessary to wait until now. The 2014-15 USUSA EC was heavily criticized during its term for rushing into things. We have learned from our mistakes and believe holding the special election any earlier would have been another example of acting before thinking.
Time was needed to develop communication strategies as well as collaboration between outgoing and incoming officers to align each piece of the puzzle before presenting a finished product.
“Having the special election now will determine how SAA and USUSA move forward,” said former USUSA President Doug Fiefia. “All stake holders will be able to know well ahead of time what their roles, responsibilities and needs are throughout the summer and fall. Hopefully students will take full advantage of this opportunity to have their voices heard by student leaders and administration.”
USUSA EC members are not the only ones anxious to hear the voices of the students for whom they advocate. Vice President for Student Services James Morales is in the process of hiring a new development officer “who will concentrate much-needed effort toward identifying private support for the division’s student services initiatives.”
“Pending the approval of the legislation to create a new Student Alumni Association Vice President in USUSA, the development officer will work closely with this student government leader,” Morales said. “All of the pieces of this partnership — the passing of the USUSA SAA VP legislation, the hiring of the new development officer and the integrated relationship between these two positions are all critical components to furthering the division and the university’s mission of effectively supporting student success.”
Kennedy, the current SAA President, has been invited to participate in the upcoming year’s USUSA EC meetings to further determine how the position would function if approved by the student body. Kennedy will have speaking rights but no voting rights.
A charter for the position has been drafted in preparation for a positive outcome in the special election. Pending the election results, it will be approved in the fall and amended as needed before the 2016 USUSA Elections.
Voting will begin this Monday, April 27, and end Thursday, April 30, at 3 p.m. Students can cast their ballot in support or opposition of the proposed legislation at vote.usu.edu. Those interested in more information concerning the vote or the role of USUSA can contact Madison Maners at prandmarketing.ususa@usu.edu.