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ASOSU general elections: to vote or not to vote?
Gail Cole
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Forum
They typically have low turnout, little student interest, and are surrounded by cynical feelings, but it is important that we vote in the ASOSU general elections.
The students running for various positions aren't politicians in Salem and Washington, D.C., who are so far removed you will never meet them. These people are your peers. You can have classes with them, stand behind them in line at Java Stop and run into them on the bustling streets of Corvegas on a weekend night.
Though the ASOSU presidential and vice presidential candidates have gotten the most attention - you've probably seen the fliers for the ASOSU president and vice president around campus - there are also elections for ASOSU Speaker of the House, senators, representatives, Student Incidental Fee committee, and MU president and vice president.
I'm sure you're sick of hearing about our crappy economy, but those elected are in contact with our administration and our elected representatives in Salem and Washington, D.C., and they are in a position to influence what is important for students.
Directly regarding what we are paying, the Student Incidental Fee committee members have control over how our student fee money is spent. If you feel like your money isn't going toward something important - or shouldn't be going toward anything at all besides the bare necessities - then you need to have a say, and this is your chance to do so.
Like people tend to ask themselves during election season, "If you don't vote, what's the worst that could happen?" Well, you simply have no room to talk. That seems like a cop-out explanation, but a person's credibility is nonexistent when he or she is complaining about this-and-that on campus next year - assuming, of course, there will be something worth complaining about - but admitting, "Uh, I didn't vote."
And assuming you've read the April 15 issue of The Daily Barometer, you already know there has been quite a commotion in our student government lately, to put things nicely. People may argue that these actions are reason to not vote, but it's time for a change and it is irresponsible to not vote in the next round after learning of the alleged indiscretions of our officials.
In Oregon, we have the luxury of voting by ballot, but this paperwork can be easily lost and forgotten about. However, the voting system for this election is set up on Blackboard, and we have two entire days to cast our vote. If you forgot to vote yesterday, then you have all of today.
With everything happening on campus, in Oregon and in our nation today, I want to have people to represent me well and I want to have a say in the election. There's no way I could throw away my vote by not caring.
So, I'm going to roll out of bed, reach for my computer and vote with only a few clicks.
Gail Cole is a sophomore in English. The opinions expressed in her columns do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily Barometer staff. Cole can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
The students running for various positions aren't politicians in Salem and Washington, D.C., who are so far removed you will never meet them. These people are your peers. You can have classes with them, stand behind them in line at Java Stop and run into them on the bustling streets of Corvegas on a weekend night.
Though the ASOSU presidential and vice presidential candidates have gotten the most attention - you've probably seen the fliers for the ASOSU president and vice president around campus - there are also elections for ASOSU Speaker of the House, senators, representatives, Student Incidental Fee committee, and MU president and vice president.
I'm sure you're sick of hearing about our crappy economy, but those elected are in contact with our administration and our elected representatives in Salem and Washington, D.C., and they are in a position to influence what is important for students.
Directly regarding what we are paying, the Student Incidental Fee committee members have control over how our student fee money is spent. If you feel like your money isn't going toward something important - or shouldn't be going toward anything at all besides the bare necessities - then you need to have a say, and this is your chance to do so.
Like people tend to ask themselves during election season, "If you don't vote, what's the worst that could happen?" Well, you simply have no room to talk. That seems like a cop-out explanation, but a person's credibility is nonexistent when he or she is complaining about this-and-that on campus next year - assuming, of course, there will be something worth complaining about - but admitting, "Uh, I didn't vote."
And assuming you've read the April 15 issue of The Daily Barometer, you already know there has been quite a commotion in our student government lately, to put things nicely. People may argue that these actions are reason to not vote, but it's time for a change and it is irresponsible to not vote in the next round after learning of the alleged indiscretions of our officials.
In Oregon, we have the luxury of voting by ballot, but this paperwork can be easily lost and forgotten about. However, the voting system for this election is set up on Blackboard, and we have two entire days to cast our vote. If you forgot to vote yesterday, then you have all of today.
With everything happening on campus, in Oregon and in our nation today, I want to have people to represent me well and I want to have a say in the election. There's no way I could throw away my vote by not caring.
So, I'm going to roll out of bed, reach for my computer and vote with only a few clicks.
Gail Cole is a sophomore in English. The opinions expressed in her columns do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily Barometer staff. Cole can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.
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