VESELENAK | The SGA elections matter
There's another election this week, and it doesn't involve John McCain or Barack Obama.
The Student Government Association's elections are being held this week to choose Central Michigan University's next student body leader.
Students should take the time this week to visit vote.cmich.edu to cast their votes for SGA president and vice president.
Why?
Because the student body president and vice president can actually make a difference, contrary to what some people believe.
Oh yeah, and they're being paid.
Both the SGA president and vice president receive the SGA Leadership Award from CMU, which allows them to take 12 credits in exchange for performing as the student body's voice.
Most student body presidents around the state receive some sort of compensation for their service from the university. Some have received full tuition, while some schools offer only a simple parking pass.
We try hard to hold our administrators accountable, and students should do the same for their elected SGA leadership.
While voter turnout in SGA elections is typically low, students should take the time this week to spend a few minutes researching the candidates - cm-life.com has videos with five of the candidates talking about what they plan to do if elected - and take the time to vote.
Voting isn't difficult. Just log onto vote.cmich.edu and select the candidate you would like to lead the student body. It's just that simple.
Central Michigan Life has been doing everything it can to hold accountable CMU's administrators and leaders, and that includes the SGA leaders. But we can only do so much, and that's why the student voice is needed to select the leaders this university needs.
CMU is in a period of transition. University President Michael Rao is leaving, a large medical school is in the works, tuition has more than doubled in the last decade and many administrative positions will be or already are empty.
Now more than ever, students' concerns and wishes need to be communicated to the adminstration.
CMU needs the next SGA president and vice president to truly be the voice of the students. The only way for that to happen is for every student to vote on his or her representation to the administration. The first step is carefully examining each set of candidates and selecting the best one.
Take the time to examine the candidates. Whether your issue is tuition, student involvement or CMU's next president, make your voice heard.
Your money is counting on it.
