The 18-25 voter crowd is notoriously bad for turning out to vote in national elections for whatever reason-they don’t feel represented by any of the candidates, or they think their vote does not make a difference.
Neither should play a role in Wednesday’s Students’ Association executive officer election.
SA elections routinely garner less than 30 percent voter turnout, which means about 1,000 students decide the fate of Congress. A few votes can easily mean the difference between winning and losing for any of the candidates.
Students have and should take the opportunity to elect their executive officers Wednesday and Thursday, which will help shape the direction SA tries to lead the student body.
Students pay a $45 activity fee each semester, $25 of which goes to SA. Congress receives more than $200,000 of students’ money each year to spend as it sees fit. Many of those decisions hinge upon who is elected Wednesday.
Many of the candidates already have definite plans on how they’d like to see the money spent-information available in the voter’s guide or campaign speeches. Next year, some students will invariably grumble about some item SA funds are used on. Instead of complaining next year about the budget after the fact, vote now to see the students’ money spent the way students want.
In almost every aspect of this election, students will have the option between change and staying with the established. Some of the candidates have proposed very different ideas-on the necessity for Congress members to attend the entire meeting regularly, on handling the students’ money and many more issues.
Students who have liked the things to come out of SA this year will be able to find a candidate to continue those things. Students wanting change will have a candidate who brings that.
In the fall, representatives will be in a place that, though they should listen to those they represent, will ultimately be responsible for leading Congress in the direction they see fit. Now, however, that choice lies with and should be taken advantage of by every student.
