|
OPINION
| UPDATED April 16
Editorial/our view
Rising to the Occasion
An increase in voter participation
indicates that UTA students will no longer sit idle
More than 1,600 students stood in line to
voice their opinions on who should lead the student body next year.
While engineering senior Josh Warren came out victorious as Student
Congress president, the more important and often overlooked aspect
of these races is the number of students who cast their votes.
Response was so overwhelming that Student Governance staff had to
retrieve more ballots, something that hasn’t had to be done
in quite some time. The office printed the same number of ballots
as last year and expected to see a similar turnout.
Last year, less than 4 percent of the student body ventured to the
University Center Palo Duro Lounge to vote. That was only about
1,000 people.
This year, the percentage rose to about 7 percent. This is likely
due to a number of different campaign strategies and a higher level
of activism on the part of students.
Throughout the year, students involved with organizations —
from Students for Just Peace to modern language students —
have voiced their concerns and dropped the seen-and-not-heard image
students have held for so long. The increase in student voters,
small but mighty, has shown that this wave of activism is not going
to stop soon.
This goes beyond a campus election. Voter turnout in local and even
national elections is on the decline. Any increase we can see on
our campus is a good indicator of how future generations will participate
in electing their representation.
While The Shorthorn congratulates the student body’s newest
student leaders, we remind them that those who elected them will
not stay silent.
Active voting means active constituents, and leaders now face the
responsibility of listening to their concerns and acting on their
behalf.
Moreover, we commend students for recognizing their responsibility
to vote. Whether your candidate won, we encourage you to continue
to vote. Saying something is better than saying nothing at all,
and our generation is one that cannot sit idle. Students this semester
have proven we are not willing to do so.
|
|
Editorial
round-up
The issue:
More than 1,600 students voted in this year’s Student
Governance elections, an increase of about 600 from
last year.
Our stance:
Students should be commended on their participation,
and leaders should hold up to their campaign promises.
|
|
|
