On Sept. 22, upperclassmen were, for the first time, given the opportunity to vote for Student Council president. After the only male candidate was eliminated in a primary, the student body was left to vote online for one of two female student candidates with no other information but their names.
The upperclassmen vote is a step in the right direction. The chance for any portion of the student population vote online for Student Council president is a new feature this year and hopefully the entire student body can be included in this online voting system in the next election.
However, it is absolutely necessary for the student body to know the candidate they are voting for.
One year or more of prior Student Council is a requirement for presidential candidates so they can be familiar with the club’s events. However, we can’t expect every student voting to know the candidates if they are not one of the 74 upper and lower class students who have been involved in Student Council this year.
It is imperative for the integrity of the Student Council voting system that students are educated on the candidates. A lack of knowledge about the candidates causes students to simply vote at random with no basis or understanding of the candidates’ platforms.
The step towards a clear voice for students in Student Council decisions is a fantastic initial step. In order to maintain continual improvement we implore presidential candidates to have platforms, campaigns, and to do their utmost to ensure that the student body they represent knows exactly who they are and what they stand for.