2008 Woodie Awards
Having only one ticket of candidates hurts students
Issue date: 4/1/05 Section: Opinion
The Student Government Association has very strict rules for how it runs its elections. It refuses to release the names of candidates until campaign week. During this week, the candidates frantically campaign, trying to rally as much support as they can in those seven days before elections occur the following week. This past week was SGA campaign week.
Don't worry, if you didn't notice; you weren't the only one. There was no chalk on the sidewalks, no candidates handing out pamphlets with their platforms and no signs hanging from every pole, wall and bathroom stall.
This is in stark contrast from last year when students couldn't avoid campaign week even if they wanted to. The two parties made sure students at least knew SGA elections were coming. But that is the difference between this year and last - there were two parties running in opposition. This year, there is only one ticket, and therefore only one choice for who will represent the student body in SGA.
The Golden Ticket is Slippery Rock's lone ticket of candidates running for SGA positions, with the executive board candidates all being current SGA members.
We at The Rocket feel it hurts the university and the students when there is no opposition or challenge in such an important election.
For one, The Golden Ticket has had no incentive to even campaign. With no other options, they know they will win if they get a few of their friends to vote for them. Students should know who will be representing and making decisions for them. They should also know the platform so as to ensure pertinent issues are being taken care of. No attempt was made to get the student body involved. This could be because it doesn't matter in terms of the election, or because the students just don't care anyway.
It will be hard to hold these candidates accountable to platform issues they said they would accomplish when nobody knows what they are.
Also, with the executive board candidates all being current SGA members, there is no turnover. It's all right if you like the decisions the current administration has made, but if students would like to see some new blood they won't be.
This is not to say The Golden Ticket candidates won't do a fine job. They might be the perfect candidates or the candidates most students would have voted for anyway. But it's negative for the university when students don't even have that option.
Don't worry, if you didn't notice; you weren't the only one. There was no chalk on the sidewalks, no candidates handing out pamphlets with their platforms and no signs hanging from every pole, wall and bathroom stall.
This is in stark contrast from last year when students couldn't avoid campaign week even if they wanted to. The two parties made sure students at least knew SGA elections were coming. But that is the difference between this year and last - there were two parties running in opposition. This year, there is only one ticket, and therefore only one choice for who will represent the student body in SGA.
The Golden Ticket is Slippery Rock's lone ticket of candidates running for SGA positions, with the executive board candidates all being current SGA members.
We at The Rocket feel it hurts the university and the students when there is no opposition or challenge in such an important election.
For one, The Golden Ticket has had no incentive to even campaign. With no other options, they know they will win if they get a few of their friends to vote for them. Students should know who will be representing and making decisions for them. They should also know the platform so as to ensure pertinent issues are being taken care of. No attempt was made to get the student body involved. This could be because it doesn't matter in terms of the election, or because the students just don't care anyway.
It will be hard to hold these candidates accountable to platform issues they said they would accomplish when nobody knows what they are.
Also, with the executive board candidates all being current SGA members, there is no turnover. It's all right if you like the decisions the current administration has made, but if students would like to see some new blood they won't be.
This is not to say The Golden Ticket candidates won't do a fine job. They might be the perfect candidates or the candidates most students would have voted for anyway. But it's negative for the university when students don't even have that option.
