Turnout Low for UB Council Election

Yesterday just two percent of UB's student population took part in a decision that will affect 100 percent of the student body. Only 468 students voted in the elections for a student representative to the UB Council. The winner, David Brooks, took this important seat with about 150 votes - just one-half of one percent of the student body. Considering the importance of the Council representative, this is a shamefully low number.

This year's election was the university's first attempt at online voting for a UB Council election. Given past complaints about the accessibility of polling places, online turnout should have been bigger than ever. The average college student spends six hours online everyday and casting a vote could not have taken more than five minutes.

Loathe to whine about student apathy - possibly the most played-out gripe at UB - The Spectrum instead places partial blame on the Council itself. Although the election itself was acceptably promoted, the actual Council has long operated under the radar of the campus culture.

The Council is important because it advises President John B. Simpson and senior officials on the biggest issues at UB. Of the 10 people on the Council, nine are appointed by Governor Pataki for seven-year terms. The student body elects the other. The most recent and notable work, conducted by current Council representative Jennifer Tuttle, was her involvement in the presidential search committee.

To get more students interested in what they do, the Council's student representative should schedule regular meetings with major groups of students, such as international clubs and graduate student associations. Finally, one representative for the total student population - composed of graduate and undergraduate students of various backgrounds - is hardy adequate given the magnitude of decisions carried out by the Council.

Yet despite the Student Association's relatively high visibility and pockets of outrage that exists about its financial practices, only 8 percent of students voted in that election. So there are clearly bigger problems afoot. Students would do well to remember that while UB can seem big and impersonal, it's really just a collection of people - and students should take a critical look at the people who endeavor to lead them.