Thursday, October 25, 2001

Loud & Clear
Candidates need to focus on issues

Thanksgiving break is around the corner, and soon after that there will be finals and Winter break. But before we can look forward to the welcomed respite from classes, students need to focus on electing Student Government Association officers for the new year.

For the past few years, SGA elections have been met with complete student apathy. This profound lack of interest stretches beyond the pathetic response from the students on voting day. In some positions, only one candidate seeks office, limiting the quality of that office. Despite a limited pool of possible officers, students rarely know what the candidates want to accomplish during their term in office.

The students willing to take up the noble goal of running for a position have another goal they need to accomplish during the process of the campaign: State your goals loud and clear.

Rhetoric comes with game of politics, but the student body needs to know what platforms the candidates are supporting.

Every candidate should be interested in students’ concerns and that needs to continue throughout the term, but it is not a good enough reason to run for office.

Candidates need to start their campaign having already listened to their constituents and must be ready to fight for them. It should not work the other way around.

A solid stance on issues will create a better campaign and will make for a more successful term in office. Support should be given to candidates who are sure of what they want to accomplish, not based on popularity alone.

Students want officers who will be proactive and notice problems before they grow bigger. They do not want officers to face a problem after being swamped with complaints because they waited until students talked to them.

Prospective candidates should already be listening to what concerns students. SGA should always be aware of other concerns besides Sodexho shortcomings, parking problems and visitation hours.

So if you’ve got what it takes, SGA is accepting applications until Wednesday. But remember that it takes more than a good listener to be a campus leader.