May 3, 2005
IDEAS AND OPINIONS
Legend’s View:
It’s not politics, it’s schoolThe Legend staff would like to congratulate Jeff Linford, next year's Student Body president. We also want to congratulate Emily Threet, Secretary. We look forward to a new year of working together with you.
That said, we are surprised! And maybe appalled, as well.
Out of a 27,000 member student body, there were 3 candidates for President, and 1 for Secretary. That's all. There are still several unfilled student government vacancies.
Last year, because of several improprieties-and lack of voter turnout-the Legend staff made several suggestions. Chief among them was the recommendation for ASMCC to aggressively let the student body know more information.
The students need to know about the candidates they are supposed to vote for. They won't vote if they don't know them!
Students need to know about candidacy requirements. And they especially need to know WHEN the elections are being held.
Newspapers are a tool.
Journalists see their role as both that of the watchdog for the public, and that of information dissemination.
Had the ASMCC board utilized the Legend to proclaim the candidacy requirements, and to introduce the candidates, there would likely have been a much larger student response.
As it was, only a couple hundred students were aware enough to vote.
Then, based on last year's improprieties, the watchdog press had its eye on election proceedings, to ensure that any similar problem this year was broadcast to the "constituents."
Apparently, there was a problem. Some false allegations were made. Because of that the ASMCC was not forthcoming with the election results in a timely manner. Understandable.
What was not understandable was the stonewalling and indirectness of the ASMCC board when asked why the results were not forthcoming.
The Legend contends that student elections were handled poorly. It boils down to this: it simply looks bad. Bad for the student-governing council, bad for the campus, and it really looks bad for the folks running the election.
Politics may color this nation's capitol, but that's not the way it should be. Even more so, a school should take great care with the image it presents, because it is the example for the following generations.
In five, or 10, or 20 years, many of the students here will have begun to reach their goals. For some, it is simply a family. For others, a career that provides mental and financial rewards.
For a small group, their future holds service. Service to the people around them. They will become public servants.
Granted, some will be in it for the money or other "perks," but that is a small percentage that shows up in every arena.
No, the public servants are the ones who are idealists. They actually believe that by their efforts, they can make the world a better place.
But when those public servants are not forthcoming, when they don't provide some form of explanation to the also idealistic truth-seeking journalists, it doesn't inspire confidence.
Rather it inspires distrust.
How can you then expect the very media that distrusts you to cooperate in getting other information out?