Today's election a chance for students' voices to be heard

Editorial Board Staff Column

If you're reading this copy of The Daily Reveille on campus, you've probably seen signs, stickers and candidates vying for your vote in today's Student Government elections.

While much has been made during the past two days about previous candidates and allegations about experience and judgment, the student body will suffer by not participating in today's process.

This Board implores all students - all of you - to vote in today's election.

The presidential candidates include The Foundation's Colorado Robertson, Vision LSU's Dixon McMakin and Do Nothing's Taylor Craft.

It's no secret that in the past, much of the voting in these elections has been dominated by fraternity and sorority members. A large majority of the total votes cast come from the Greek community, partially because of their accessibility and collective fortitude for doing things in large numbers.

Their collective voice has trumped the rest of the student body's will more often than not, citing an obvious reflection of the general lack of interest the students have for SG, and - arguably - vice versa.

By the time you made it to this sentence, you could have already made your voice heard.

Voting in this election - thanks to the advent of online voting - has become much simpler and user friendly. It has become as simple as logging in to PAWS, selecting "Student Services," clicking on "2008 Student Government Elections," and selecting your choice.

SG serves as the main liaison between the student body and the administration. All SG members are required to hold at least one office hour for listening to their constituents and bringing those concerns to committee meetings and the general convening of the SG Senate, held every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Atchafalaya Room of the LSU Student Union.

They have the power to push for change - from choosing which organizations to fund to editing the academic calendar and introducing initiatives such as "Easy Streets."

It's important for the newly-elected government to be accountable to the students who elect them. The executive candidates' emphasis on SG transparency and student correspondence reveals their knowledge of a growing distrust in SG. Incoming government members have the opportunity to stop that perception if they stick to their campaign promises.

Today is the student body's turn to let their voices be heard. Login to PAWS, vote for the candidates and make SG mean something. Speak up and be counted.


Originally published in The Daily Reveille...