The democratic process necessitates a race during election time. And a race involves - no, requires - at least two competing participants, both eager to win and willing to put forth the effort. The winner of the political race is the opponent who has better arguments and greater support.
In 2005, the Student Government Association election was not a race, it was a given. With only one candidate, there was simply no competition for the position and, therefore, no indication that more than a few students at Ball State had any interest in the issues that affect the entire student body. Although the single-slate election did not necessarily deliver Ball State an unsatisfactory slate, the fact remains: Competition drives effort, and lack of competition robs voters of the chance to make a decision, let alone the right one.
Each and every student at Ball State has the opportunity to change the situation this year by turning in a presidential slate application.
Election packets for 2006-07 SGA positions are currently available in the SGA office or on the SGA Web site, and they are due on Feb. 13. That means you have one month and one day to compose a team, make the plans, get the signatures and put together a presidential campaign that will encourage students to vote - to make them care. It's plenty of time, but interested parties must start the process soon.
As it appears now, certain hotbed issues - like Saturday finals and Fall Break -¡- might not be resolved entirely by the time the next slate takes office. So if you care at all who takes control of those efforts and continues urging University Senate and the administration to operate in the student interest, perhaps the person signing up to run the race should be you.
For students with or without SGA experience, attending Student Senate meetings at 3:15 on Wednesdays in Cardinal Hall B of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center would be a good first step - as would picking up the election packet.
The members of the SGA presidential slate hold some of the most powerful and important positions on this campus. They represent student concerns and work to make changes at Ball State with the sole purpose of improving student lives.
Without solid leaders in SGA, this university would progress much more slowly, and students would be left at the back of the pack.
Just remember, you can't complain about the outcome if you never took the chance to enter the race.
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