The student body has failed once more to play an active role in student government at UB, as this year's elections will offer students a choice of only nine candidates for a total of seven positions.
Particularly troubling is that students were in an uproar only a month ago after The Spectrum disclosed that the tuitions of the e-board were to be paid with money from the Mandatory Student Activity Fee as per legislation passed by last year's SA Senate. Less than three weeks ago, many students came out and protested the proposed SUNY tuition hike with fervor, vehemently advocating reform at the state level. The week before spring break, over 100 students showed up to a protest of a war in Iraq. Yet, when it came time to turn words into action, only the status quo responded.
SA elections, scheduled for March 26 to 28, will feature only one full party, with competition only for the positions of president and vice president. This apathy is somewhat expected, but more disheartening than usual, given how vocal the normally silent student body has been this semester.
Students should not be excused for their inaction, particularly those who were clamoring for change only a few weeks ago. But SA's methods of publicizing the election seem to have been limited to advertising in Visions and The Spectrum; none of our editors can recall having seen any posters in the halls or dorms for the elections. While SA perhaps should have been more proactive in recruiting candidates and explaining the process, the responsibility ultimately lies with the students who cannot be coddled through their time at UB.
For the last two years, SA has promoted student involvement at UB as crucial to a successful collegiate career. They have also offered SA itself as a great way to be involved. Students may be critical of the way SA has acted in the past, but there is no better way to make changes than to become involved in student government.
Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done this year, but it is important that SA provides better access to those interested in running for office but who do not know the particulars of the process. The Momentum Party's platform for SUNY SA delegates included setting up a table in the Student Union and elsewhere on UB's two campuses to hear from students and let them in on news from Albany. Perhaps in the future, a similar table might be set up for letting students know about elections and how they can run for school-wide or even state-wide office.
Enthusiasm is contagious, but so is apathy. Whether the blame for the dearth of candidates at this year's election lies with SA for inadequate advertisement or with students for failing to take an active role in their own student government, it is pitiful. An election with only one candidate falls short of the democratic ideal. Next year's SA staff will shoulder the burden of trying to convince students that involvement is worthwhile, but it is doubtful that students elected in uncontested elections will be as motivated by the virtue of competition as they should be.
Involvement is truly the lifeblood of any student body and encouraging involvement is a fundamental responsibility of a student government.
