2008 Woodie Awards
Student Government rules are stifling attempts at reform
Joseph Audette
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Soap Box
It is understandable that some Student Government (SG) members think it's a good thing having no outsiders running for office. Once you have formed ties to others in a political circle, one can begin to feel safe in that position as long as the status quo is maintained. This holds for the president, senators, even an advertisement lackey. The idea of a "paradigm shift" in SG could potentially disrupt the status quo to the point where some politicians could see their positions placed in jeopardy as a popular outsider running on a campaign of reform takes the helm of SG.
SG and the Fair Elections Practices Commission (FEPC) have established a nice little safety zone for themselves. Not only do they have a deadline for write-ins - which, by many definitions, is undemocratic at best - but they have also discouraged the student voter from making a choice other than the candidates who have been endorsed either by the administration or by the FEPC and SG itself.
By establishing a system that effectively infringes on voter rights, SG and the FEPC have made it possible for its members to play the "musical chairs" game so popularly noted in the student forum. There is little point in bringing the spitting match currently taking place in the forums to The Maine Campus, as the outcome has already been largely decided there. We will see a government claiming reform only because a few chose to stand up and cry foul. After the election is over and the forum has simmered down a bit, things will return to normal for SG. No change. Meanwhile, the student body will continue its distrust and contempt for SG until next year, when this whole process repeats itself.
The student body should make a statement. The FEPC will not allow students to vote for a write-in at this point. Vote for one anyway. When they hand you a ballot and the pencil with which they expect you to simply mark "x" next to their candidate, write your own name or someone you think can make a difference across it and hand it to them. Let them throw it out. Let them say "you can't do that." The vote may be wasted, but since the vote really doesn't matter, at least you'll be able to say you voted for your own choice.
Every year there are comments made about dissolving the SG and even joking comments of revolt. Add to that the Photoshop remakes of Derek Mitchell's posters promoting Bill Pomerleau's candidacy this year. This was nonsense before and it still is.
If you want to change the student representation vote for someone you want, or render SG ineffective. SG uses funds from the student activity fee to operate and fund legislations. Go to Wingate and demand it be refunded. If you get the money, give it to a club on campus, a specific college or just spend it in a way that you think would benefit the student body. If not, at least SG will know that something is being done.
Simply ignoring the system is not an option. If anything positive can be taken from this whole mess, it's that you don't have to be part of the system to change it.
Joseph Audette is a second-year secondary education major with a concentration in U.S. history.
SG and the Fair Elections Practices Commission (FEPC) have established a nice little safety zone for themselves. Not only do they have a deadline for write-ins - which, by many definitions, is undemocratic at best - but they have also discouraged the student voter from making a choice other than the candidates who have been endorsed either by the administration or by the FEPC and SG itself.
By establishing a system that effectively infringes on voter rights, SG and the FEPC have made it possible for its members to play the "musical chairs" game so popularly noted in the student forum. There is little point in bringing the spitting match currently taking place in the forums to The Maine Campus, as the outcome has already been largely decided there. We will see a government claiming reform only because a few chose to stand up and cry foul. After the election is over and the forum has simmered down a bit, things will return to normal for SG. No change. Meanwhile, the student body will continue its distrust and contempt for SG until next year, when this whole process repeats itself.
The student body should make a statement. The FEPC will not allow students to vote for a write-in at this point. Vote for one anyway. When they hand you a ballot and the pencil with which they expect you to simply mark "x" next to their candidate, write your own name or someone you think can make a difference across it and hand it to them. Let them throw it out. Let them say "you can't do that." The vote may be wasted, but since the vote really doesn't matter, at least you'll be able to say you voted for your own choice.
Every year there are comments made about dissolving the SG and even joking comments of revolt. Add to that the Photoshop remakes of Derek Mitchell's posters promoting Bill Pomerleau's candidacy this year. This was nonsense before and it still is.
If you want to change the student representation vote for someone you want, or render SG ineffective. SG uses funds from the student activity fee to operate and fund legislations. Go to Wingate and demand it be refunded. If you get the money, give it to a club on campus, a specific college or just spend it in a way that you think would benefit the student body. If not, at least SG will know that something is being done.
Simply ignoring the system is not an option. If anything positive can be taken from this whole mess, it's that you don't have to be part of the system to change it.
Joseph Audette is a second-year secondary education major with a concentration in U.S. history.
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