By: Kelsey Thomas
Every year, University of Georgia students are permitted a chance to voice their opinion on their leaders, their representatives, and their collective voice. However, a small percentage of students actually take this opportunity. While this pattern may sound similar to more large-scale elections, elections for the UGA Student Government Association have comparatively lower turnout than presidential, congressional, and local elections. SGA election participation declined to a new low at last year’s 4% turnout rate. But why? The actions of the Student Government Association have the potential to impact our everyday lives in more immediately tangible ways than most elected bodies. Despite this, students tend to either not vote or vote based on advertising and mutual friends rather than issues, platforms, and opinions. This year, it is imperative that students become informed and involved in the Student Government Association electoral process before making their decision and casting their ballot on Oasis.
Firstly, every student should decide for themselves what they believe the purpose of SGA to be. Many students believe that it is meant to provide services and activities for students, such as the Dawgs After Dark programs and movies at Tate Theatre. If this is the case, a student should look into the platform of all SGA executive tickets to determine which group would best promote and organize these types of events. On the other hand, many students believe that SGA should serve as a political voice for the collective student body, a solid voice on matters such as the HOPE Scholarship. If you are this type of student, then you should vote for the executive ticket which can get things done in the political arena that are beneficial to students.
However, whether you believe that SGA should be socially or politically focused, do not fool yourself into thinking that the students you raise up to represent you will not act in a manner that directly conflicts those who elect them. If you elect a socially focused executive ticket or college representative, do not believe that they will not dabble (or, more correctly, dive) into political issues. If you elect SGA members to serve as your political voice, do not think that they will always voice an opinion with which you agree.
Since this writer has been at our fine university, SGA has discussed issues that would put limits on student behavior, such as banning smoking on campus. They have discussed resolutions condemning a bill banning illegal immigrants from attending public universities, supporting a Palestinian nation, and condemning a bill allowing for concealed carrying on campus. These are issues that I did not expect SGA to take up when I chose which button to press on Oasis during election week. I did not believe that these were issues about which to ask candidates running for SGA Senate. Despite my beliefs, these issues did arise. In several circumstances, SGA voted upon them. Occasionally, my representatives passed resolutions on behalf on the entire student body with which I vehemently disagreed. During my first few years, I let these issues slide, telling myself that they did not matter in the grand scheme of things.
This year, I have resolved to handle this situation differently. I have read through the resolutions and the recorded votes taken upon them. I have made up my mind about what issues I believe SGA should handle and which they should not. This year, I am not going to sit by while SGA representatives overstep the authority granted to them by voting against their constituents. I will not support any SGA candidate who voted in favor of Resolution 24-06. Regardless of your own opinions on this and other issues, I encourage you to look into the voting behavior of your SGA representatives. Find out whether or not they have represented you accurately, and voice your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with your vote.
