2008 Woodie Awards
Campus elections effect all students
Kristy Banning '08
Issue date: 12/8/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
The stereotype that young adults in America don't care about voting may be true in some cases. This stereotype showed itself in the student council elections last week, which drew the kind of turnout that enhanced the view that we just don't care. I don't think this stereotype is true, even if most of the students at St. Joe's didn't participate in the elections. We are not bad citizens or bad students.
I am not trying to make excuses, but there are many possible reasons why people did not participate in the election. Every election has to fit in with our busy and complicated lives. We may not find time to vote. It doesn't mean that the students at St. Joe's don't care; it's just that our already hectic lives become even busier during this time of year. We are forced to juggle family, friends, school, and work, along with the holidays. Our to-do lists are very long all year round.
The poor turnout could have other causes as well. Maybe the anticipation leading to the elections wasn't exciting enough, or maybe there wasn't enough promotion. We have all seen the link on mySJU, but some people can go weeks without checking the page. Some courses, believe it or not, do not require you to use the site on a daily basis. Maybe next year, if more advertising is done and excitement is raised, more students will pay attention.
Poor voter participation could also have been caused by a very specific way of thinking among students. Most people today live with a philosophy that states, "If it doesn't help me, why should I help it?" Some St. Joe's students may feel that the University Student Senate doesn't make a big impact, thinking, "Why care when nothing happens anyway? It is never going to impact me personally." Many people here at this school seem to have that mindset.
Hopefully, the new Student Senate is going to represent us well and resolve many problems this year, despite the election's low turnout. Someone has to represent the students in decisions that affect us. That's exactly why there is an election in which students vote for their peers. Some may agree, but there are still some people that respond with a thoughtless attitude.
Many questions are left unanswered about the turnout of the election. I believe that the turnout wasn't the result of apathy, but of forgetfulness. An election will always represent an important event. No matter how low the turnout was we still have a student council that will do their best to satisfy our needs. Hopefully, next year there will be more excitement about the elections and students will recognize the importance of voting. Maybe these suggestions will result in a higher turnout for future elections. Maybe, in an ironic way, the negative turnout this year will result in an increase for next year's election. Hopefully, in the end, most students will be inspired to vote.
I am not trying to make excuses, but there are many possible reasons why people did not participate in the election. Every election has to fit in with our busy and complicated lives. We may not find time to vote. It doesn't mean that the students at St. Joe's don't care; it's just that our already hectic lives become even busier during this time of year. We are forced to juggle family, friends, school, and work, along with the holidays. Our to-do lists are very long all year round.
The poor turnout could have other causes as well. Maybe the anticipation leading to the elections wasn't exciting enough, or maybe there wasn't enough promotion. We have all seen the link on mySJU, but some people can go weeks without checking the page. Some courses, believe it or not, do not require you to use the site on a daily basis. Maybe next year, if more advertising is done and excitement is raised, more students will pay attention.
Poor voter participation could also have been caused by a very specific way of thinking among students. Most people today live with a philosophy that states, "If it doesn't help me, why should I help it?" Some St. Joe's students may feel that the University Student Senate doesn't make a big impact, thinking, "Why care when nothing happens anyway? It is never going to impact me personally." Many people here at this school seem to have that mindset.
Hopefully, the new Student Senate is going to represent us well and resolve many problems this year, despite the election's low turnout. Someone has to represent the students in decisions that affect us. That's exactly why there is an election in which students vote for their peers. Some may agree, but there are still some people that respond with a thoughtless attitude.
Many questions are left unanswered about the turnout of the election. I believe that the turnout wasn't the result of apathy, but of forgetfulness. An election will always represent an important event. No matter how low the turnout was we still have a student council that will do their best to satisfy our needs. Hopefully, next year there will be more excitement about the elections and students will recognize the importance of voting. Maybe these suggestions will result in a higher turnout for future elections. Maybe, in an ironic way, the negative turnout this year will result in an increase for next year's election. Hopefully, in the end, most students will be inspired to vote.
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