Editorial
Students need to vote to support senators
April 1, 2011
Most college students understand their responsibilities as a member of academia. One has to attend class regularly, study, read and take tests and write papers that reflect and prove that one absorbed that knowledge. There is another very important duty that students in the 21st century seem to be absent-minded about; voting for their fellow students into the senate.
The lethargy and disinterest in actively participating in student senate elections among most college students at UWRF can be explained several ways.
Some students may think that the senate is just a façade that portrays itself as being important but really has no significance upon this campus.
Others may think that the senate is only a forum for political science majors to boast about their political knowledge and understanding, while again, getting nothing done.
This type of outlook on senate obviously affects student voter turnout. The presidential re-election last fall only drew 311 voters, which was around half the amount of voters that turned out during the regular election last spring.
This lackadaisical nature during senate elections on campus is not a characteristic that is inherent in UWRF’s students. For example, in 1950, 79 percent of the student body voted, not for student senate candidates, but for a revision of the senate constitution.
The belief that the senate deals with issues that have no relevance to you as a student simply is not true.
In November of 2009, the senate voted in favor of spending $24,900 on a program called OrgSync. A website for student organizations, Orgsync, is a way for student orgs. on campus to communicate and keep records. According to an article in the Student Voice, the money to purchase the program came from a reserve account that is used specifically for funding programs that benefit students. At the time the article was written, the account had $150,000.
Besides spending and doling out money, the governing body also deals with university building projects such as the Health and Human Performance Building and the Master Plan.
Hopefully now you understand that the senate wields power on this campus. The first step in making sure that your voice is heard is by voting during next week’s election. To learn more about the students that will be on the ballot next week we provided a brief description of all the candidates on page 8.
Student Senate elections will be this Monday and Tuesday and the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check your student email on Monday for a link to vote.