2008 Woodie Awards
Angst of the apathetic not as productive as engagement in civics
Derek Mitchell
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Soap Box
Do you think Barack Obama waited around for someone from the Federal Election Commission to call about filing his statement of candidacy to run for president? Did someone call and remind him of the deadline to file? Did they hold his hand through the process? Probably not - Senator Obama knew what he wanted and knew what it took to get there.
Now if University of Maine students only took that same initiative.
This week there has been an often-heated debate in the UMaine Forum about candidacy for Student Government President. Some students complained that there was insufficient advertising about the nomination and petition period; others complained that the candidates running this year are both entrenched in Student Government "politics" - that there are no outsiders.
Both of these claims could be addressed with that Obama-esque initiative.
The nomination window was advertised using posters and an e-mail advertisement sent several times on FirstClass. A story in The Maine Campus about the Fair Elections Practices Commission and election requirements supplemented Student Government's marketing, and several candidates took out petitions to earn their spot on the ballot.
Typing quickly behind the cloak of their computer screens, some in the UMaine Forum argued that this was not enough. I was not directly involved, but allow me to apologize on behalf of Student Government.
If someone wanted to become President of Student Government - had that concern for the welfare of their fellow students, had the time to devote to causes determined important to students and the Student Senate, and had great ideas to make life even better for us at UMaine - why did they not have the initiative to walk into the Wade Center and ask how to run?
Further, if someone were truly committed to improving Student Government and life on campus, they should have gotten involved sooner. The president is not the only "power-player" role in Student Government - how about becoming a Student Senator? Then you could actually vote and make decisions that impact Student Government's operation. Plus, with some time as a senator under your belt, you will have a better idea for how Student Government operates as a candidate for president- in both the positive ways and those that need changing.
Now if University of Maine students only took that same initiative.
This week there has been an often-heated debate in the UMaine Forum about candidacy for Student Government President. Some students complained that there was insufficient advertising about the nomination and petition period; others complained that the candidates running this year are both entrenched in Student Government "politics" - that there are no outsiders.
Both of these claims could be addressed with that Obama-esque initiative.
The nomination window was advertised using posters and an e-mail advertisement sent several times on FirstClass. A story in The Maine Campus about the Fair Elections Practices Commission and election requirements supplemented Student Government's marketing, and several candidates took out petitions to earn their spot on the ballot.
Typing quickly behind the cloak of their computer screens, some in the UMaine Forum argued that this was not enough. I was not directly involved, but allow me to apologize on behalf of Student Government.
If someone wanted to become President of Student Government - had that concern for the welfare of their fellow students, had the time to devote to causes determined important to students and the Student Senate, and had great ideas to make life even better for us at UMaine - why did they not have the initiative to walk into the Wade Center and ask how to run?
Further, if someone were truly committed to improving Student Government and life on campus, they should have gotten involved sooner. The president is not the only "power-player" role in Student Government - how about becoming a Student Senator? Then you could actually vote and make decisions that impact Student Government's operation. Plus, with some time as a senator under your belt, you will have a better idea for how Student Government operates as a candidate for president- in both the positive ways and those that need changing.
Be the first to comment on this story