2008 Woodie Awards
SRC elections need designated voting locations
Staff Report
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Staff Reflections
The certifications of next year's Student Representative Council members were announced Wednesday. During the SRC meeting that day, the ethics of the members who received grievances were questioned.
A lot of responsibility lies in the hands of the candidates. They attend a marketing and campaigning meeting, which informs them of what they can or cannot do while campaigning. And although the candidates attended the meeting, not all of them followed the bylaws.
But not only is personal ethics to question, technology was one concern mentioned at the SRC meeting . We took into consideration the location of the polls. In a state or national election, there are selected poll locations. Perhaps if the elections were held in designated voting locations on campus, there would be less discrepancies in voting. This would also allow a better watch on the candidates and how far they campaign from the polls. But it would effect voting numbers.
What would we prefer, quantity or quality? We have considered that the most motivated and educated students would take the time to get to the voting locations and vote. This would also make the polls more visible.
Another issue that comes up each year is the number of Greeks on council. In some instances, it seems as though Greeks run for a position on council for their resumé or other hidden agendas. But on the other hand, many of the members currently on council are Greeks and they leave that part of their life checked out at the door.
The biggest concern about Greek Life is stacking the vote. Especially with tickets, where candidates campaign together, getting Greek members to back a brother or sister can build their vote and any other candidate's name on the ticket.
But if students want a more diverse council they can run, too. Maybe they will have to work harder without brothers or sisters supporting them from Greek Life, but that's how democracy works.
A lot of responsibility lies in the hands of the candidates. They attend a marketing and campaigning meeting, which informs them of what they can or cannot do while campaigning. And although the candidates attended the meeting, not all of them followed the bylaws.
But not only is personal ethics to question, technology was one concern mentioned at the SRC meeting . We took into consideration the location of the polls. In a state or national election, there are selected poll locations. Perhaps if the elections were held in designated voting locations on campus, there would be less discrepancies in voting. This would also allow a better watch on the candidates and how far they campaign from the polls. But it would effect voting numbers.
What would we prefer, quantity or quality? We have considered that the most motivated and educated students would take the time to get to the voting locations and vote. This would also make the polls more visible.
Another issue that comes up each year is the number of Greeks on council. In some instances, it seems as though Greeks run for a position on council for their resumé or other hidden agendas. But on the other hand, many of the members currently on council are Greeks and they leave that part of their life checked out at the door.
The biggest concern about Greek Life is stacking the vote. Especially with tickets, where candidates campaign together, getting Greek members to back a brother or sister can build their vote and any other candidate's name on the ticket.
But if students want a more diverse council they can run, too. Maybe they will have to work harder without brothers or sisters supporting them from Greek Life, but that's how democracy works.
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