By Tyler Kerr
There are many names on the Student Government Association ballot, and some students may be uneducated about many of the positions.
Sana Abhari, candidate for senator in the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences, stressed the important role that an election can play in getting students involved on a college campus.
“I would encourage every student to enter the election at some point in their student career to see how the process works and become more involved with the university,” Abhari said.
However, some students, such as junior humanities major Ethan Wilbrett, feel that the current SGA election represents students casting their ballots by picking a name randomly rather than considering the issues.
“I think a lot of students don’t always know the candidates, and just pick the most familiar name or even at random,” Wilbrett said. “The key is to become involved, and look closely at who is running and I want to know the issues of each candidate.”
This SGA campaign season has seen a variety of different issues and ideas emphasized by the candidates.
Darryl Young, Jr., a candidate for education senator said, “I plan on retooling the peer mentor program by making faculty more well-known and approachable for students and providing study groups for students.”
Abhari thinks programs such as REACH and the first-year guide program should be expanded.
“Getting freshmen involved from the start increases the chance of someone being involved during their years in college,” Abhari said.
Throughout the campaigning, candidates and students have indicated that increased communication between SGA and students is a key ingredient to future success.
In his speech at the debate last Thursday, A & S Senate candidate Michael Rolf said, “I want to create a place where open communication is the expected.”
Despite this emphasis on communication, Wilbrett said that the burden is on SGA to get a better sense of what students want.
“I think that members of SGA need to do a better job finding out the interests of the student body,” Wilbrett said, “and not just the opinions of their close friends and heads of large organizations on campus.”
Preston Bates, a candidate for senate in the School of Business, echoed Wilbrett’s sentiments in his statements at the debate.
“SGA needs to be more accommodating of students and entertain everyone’s ideas,” Bates said.
Young said he feels that one reason for students feeling disenfranchised toward the election is because they feel SGA is simply ineffective.
Regardless of whom students will cast their vote for, Brenetz said students need to weigh all of the issues before doing so.
