Undergraduate student government showed an impressive level of transparency and willingness to act in accordance with student opinion by deciding to adopt an amended proposal to reform the election code.
At its Tuesday meeting, the Undergraduate Students Association Council discussed two proposals, one from the Election Board and one from USAC President David Bocarsly, both of which were prompted by problems caused by loopholes in the election code.
The council approved an amended version of the Election Board’s proposal. The revised election code now limits the elections endorsement process to official signatories from student groups.
We applaud councilmembers for incorporating elements of Bocarsly’s well-thought-out proposal into the amended Election Board proposal, and for deciding to address the issues with the election code in a direct, effective manner. The lengthy consideration given to both proposals before a vote also showed prudence and open-mindedness on the part of the council.
Moreover, the council’s final decision reflected student opinion on the issue – nine of 11 students who spoke during the public comment period supported the Election Board’s proposal.
The change in the election code also provides room for the Election Board to make changes to the endorsement process. This board thinks that the much of the endorsement process as it is can be helpful for student groups, but that reshuffling the election calendar would serve to streamline the process and allow for more substantial discussion of candidates’ platforms.
Currently, student groups who wish to endorse candidates must attend an hourslong endorsement hearing, during which groups can pose questions to candidates. This often turns into dragged-out question-and-answer sessions, with students asking questions that are only relevant to their particular group.
Student groups that attend the hearing are likely to have only a cursory understanding of each candidate’s ability to articulate his or her platform.
These problems could be solved by moving the “Meet the Candidates” event and the candidate debate so that they occur before the hearing. Last year, these two events occurred in the days after the hearing.
Flipping the election calendar on its head would allow students to familiarize themselves with candidates before the hearing. The hearing – which last year drew more than 70 groups – could then be an opportunity to address issues pertinent to a broader constituency.
With loopholes in the election code now addressed by the council, the Election Board should carefully consider ways to better the endorsement process.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board.