Editorial: If you tell them, they will come

If you are reading this, then FUSA elections have already passed. Weren’t aware of this? You weren’t alone.’

FUSA overall has done a good job of stating its priorities this year, especially presenting the voice of students to the University during this economic crisis. However, whether students are actually aware of what FUSA is doing is a bigger question, one that we suspect will not have an answer pleasing to FUSA or anyone that cares about the changes they want to see before they graduate.’

In a time where it seems everyone is cutting back, FUSA representatives have announced they will reduce the number of Senators by 20 percent, not because of financial reasons but because of a lack of student involvement in our student government.

Not only is the Senate having a difficult time maintaining senators, but the ballot for Tuesday’s election was especially bare.

For the second time in four years, a candidate ran unopposed for FUSA president, the highest office of FUSA. So even if you made the effort to vote, you weren’t given many choices.

But those who voted were in the minority, which brings us back to the biggest question: If most’ students are not aware of when or where the FUSA elections are taking place, are they likely to know that FUSA is putting faculty evaluations online or that it is looking to improve public transportation after sophomores’ car privileges were revoked?

Yes, word of mouth may have served the students well in ascertaining that FUSA is working to resolving some issues. But isn’t it the job of FUSA, not the general student body, to get the information to everyone on campus?

With all of the members of FUSA and different positions held, why is someone not working to inform the students of the work they are actually doing, and, more importantly, when to vote them into office.

Communication is key, and without it, the changes being much less meaningful.
We cannot blame students for not getting involved in student government, either through actually holding a position or just voting in the elections.

If students are not informed of what’s going on, then they feel helpless in enacting change, and will not bother getting involved in the organization; it is a vicious cycle.

But we must work on fixing such, because we’re already seeing the ramifications: fewer senators means fewer perspectives in senate meetings, less people on committees, and overall, less change.’