By
It is that time again, time for student’s to take advantage of their right to vote, their right to be heard and to take responsibility for how they are being represented.
In November, a record breaking number of college students went to the booths to cast their vote in a presidential election that will go down in history in more ways than one.
Is it too much to hope those same students will step up and cast their votes for the very important positions of Student Government President, Academics Vice-President, Services Vice-President and Executive Vice-President?
In November some of you may have stood in lines because you knew it was the right thing to do. And at some degree it was as important that you turned out to vote as which candidate you were voting for. It is when citizens make themselves heard, through their votes, that democracy works.
No one has to stand in lines to cast their votes today and tomorrow. Just a quick visit to ULink, a site we as citizens of the U of L community should already know very well. Click here and there and before you know it, your vote has been cast; your voice has been heard.
We’ve all heard a version of, “you lose the right to complain about how things are, if you don’t use your right to vote.” That may be true. The number of students who actually voted in the 2008 SGA elections was embarrassing. A campus with over 20,000 students should definitely have more than the just under 3,000 votes that were cast. This fact sure didn’t keep many students from being upset with the SGA at every turn.
One could wonder if the majority of students even realize how important the SGA positions are. The SGA president represents the students to the administration and even to Frankfort. When the administration has a query, it is not the student body they go to normally; it is the SGA president. When the administration was discussing the meal plan that most every student is not happy about, it was not the student body they conferred with, it was the SGA president.
The students who hold these four positions get their tuition paid and although it should not be the main reason a person runs for office, it will surely look pretty good on their resumé.
Do not pass up the chance to have a real voice in this community of ours. This is where you will spend a lot of time and money while obtaining the education you’ll take with you when you graduate.
You won’t be wasting the moments it takes to vote, it’s only a waste if you don’t.
U of L is a major university and although we have our problems here and there, we have a lot to be proud of as well.
Take a moment out of your day today or at the latest tomorrow and visit ULink and cast your votes.
