Dear Editor,
The most recent USG elections have ended, with the results published and displayed outside SAC 202. In brief, two out of the four open CAS Senate seats have been filled by the Reform Party (with the two others going to independents,) Anwer Adeel has been elected as Freshman Class Representative, the various USG Constitutional Amendments passed overwhelmingly, and students rejected a proposal to decrease the student activity fee.
The most striking feature of the elections was the incredibly low turnout, with less than 750 students voting out of a total electorate of some 13,000 undergraduates, a miserably low 5.8% turnout figure that would shame any ‘democracy.’ Part of the blame must be ascribed to the general apathy of students, but the overwhelming burden for this failure is on the Undergraduate Student Government as a whole.
Most students I spoke to were not aware of the elections, while others did see the signs but did not care to vote. It is the government’s responsibility to prove to the electorate that there is value in voting for USG officers and on USG issues, and for the government to prove that it can be relevant, active, and effective. The overwhelming majority of students, however, seem to have no confidence in USG’s role as an advocate to students and a representative of their interests.
The low turn out has massive implications on the legitimacy of the current government and in its ability to negotiate and lobby on behalf of students. Who would take the USG President or the USG Senate seriously if they speak out on an issue, claiming to represent the will of the student body?
These results should be a serious concern to any advocate of students rights and it is imperative that the USG develop a ‘marketing strategy,’ in which the government spends most of its time tackling important issues close to the hearts and minds of students and showing real and tangible results, moving away from internal matters, paper shuffling, and other bureaucratic rubbish which may bring untold joy to our representatives but to which students could not care less about. At the same time, USG must advertise its successes and its achievements, so that students understand the utility and worth of their government and take a more active part in supporting it.
The most recent ballot also addressed the hotly debated issue of reducing the student activity fee, and students voted 457 in favor and 282 against the proposal, causing it to fail due to the lack of a 2/3 majority. It is interesting that this proposal received the most votes compared to any other on the ballot, perhaps reflecting that a sizeable number of students logged on to SOLAR specifically to cast their vote in opposition, and I wish to thank these students from the bottom of my heart on taking that step.
By rejecting the almost negligible $1.75/semester fee decrease, the USG now has a good chunk of funding that should be used in a productive manner, perhaps as part of a campaign to reduce the cost of food on campus, wherein the funds could be used to manage several ‘one-day’ strikes on campus food locations, as part of a strategy to negotiate for lower food prices. Even if the most modest success is achieved, perhaps a 3% reduction in overall prices, this will translate to a savings of a great deal more than $1.75/semester for each student.
Alternatively, the money can be used to fund some useful, creative programs, such as the recently approved ‘P.A.S.S. Act’ which is designed to provide free one-on-one tutoring for students. It is up to the USG Senate to consider these and many other options and decide upon an intelligent strategy. Failing that, it will be up to students to reassert their power and shame the Senate by doing its work for it – essentially by coming up with programs and ideas that we have elected our representatives to deal with on our behalf.
A final note, there was no USG Senate meeting scheduled on Tuesday, October 31, 2006, but the Senate will be back in session at 7 pm on November 7th.
Respectfully yours,
Esam Al-Shareffi
