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Show UNIVERSITY Journal P AC E E 5 Rachel Glidden, Monday, February 27, 2006 Marc Dotson, Participation crucial during election time In the latest editions of the University Journal there have been a number of articles and opinions written about the upcoming SUUSA elections, including controversy about deadlines and encouragement to be fair to students. We commend the senates decision to extend deadlines for candidacy declarations. We thank those who have worked relentlessly to provide important information. We also remind students that today is the first day of elections. During the next few weeks, students will have the opportunity to be exposed to the campaigns of the SUUSA candidates and choose who they believe will best represent them next year. This should not be a campaign about who is the most popular, looks the best or has the nicest smile. This year, and every year, students should pay attention to the issues on campus. The judgment of who to vote for should not be based on what band the candidate likes but on what he or she intends to do for the student body. Active campaigning for the various positions begins today. It will give students the opportunity to learn about who is running for office and possibly an idea of why the candidates are running. On Wednesday, students can make their voices heard by voting in the primary elections. The results from the elections will be announced that day at 6 p.m. Voting can take place at any computer lab on campus or on six laptops that will be at a designated location on campus to be announced. On Thursday, students can meet the candidates from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Living Room. At that time, those present will be able to ask questions and listen to the candidates debate various topics. In Mondays edition of the Journal, we will publish the candidates platforms. The platforms will give students an idea of each candidates position on the issues closest to students and the school. Then, on March 8, students will make the final decision about who will be their voice on campus while in office next year. Voting procedures in the general elections will be the same as the primary elections. We encourage the candidates to act fairly and justly in the upcoming race. We hope they will remember that this is an opportunity to do something good for the school and not to smear their fellow students. We ask all students to take a few minutes, review the candidates platforms and vote. Lets make this year the biggest turnout ever and not just for the free pizza. - are the collective perspective of the University Journal editorial board. The editorial board meets every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. in room 176C of the Sharwan The opinions expressed above Smith Center. UNIVERSITY OURNAL 'OUTH IBM UTAH UNIVE WtTPNlTlff)TAWi DIRECTING STAFF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Editor Vale White 586-775- 0 Associate Editor - Campus News Opinion Rachel Glidden Associate Editor - City News Opinion Marc Dotson 2 2 Advertising 9 8 , ou'fUc me vi tJHo's f To GlViKfc? OUT uJ Mo vJcrres KtOD IS TMAT I Vo re 1 W Sr ? 'll TDM"UC?AU 4tM A I F AM I For. VOTE - J. PercscilB? X GUARAIsjras (TfJ President: put whole above self In the famous words of Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich, my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. The University Journal editorial board has asked me, and a number of individuals on campus, to write concerning leadership when things are going the way we want, continually keeping involved is a lifelong skill that will pay dividends. So, part of the equation is having student leaders willing to place their own personal interests below what needs to be done. Through my experience, I have come to realize that the primary in a series its launching. The timing of this endeavor priority of any leader should be to know whom they lead. I dont mean knowing the group of is impeccable, given that elections for student officers people they represent, are beginning. So, the question is posed What makes but knowing the actual individuals in the group. a leader, and what advice can be offered for next years When youre in a representative position, if little SAYS student leaders? attempts are made at finding out the minds and thoughts So many definitions have been given for a leader. of constituents, then failure is the result. Knowing whom Looking down history, leaders have used their influence you lead is imperative to building a relationship of trust for both good and not so good. In my own personal that allows others to grow confident that the direction their leader is taking them is best. opinion, a good leader is someone who places the needs of the whole above themselves in such a way that others The result is a knowledgeable leader understanding the follow their example and vision. needs of the group, and taking a direction where everyone When a leader is not just managing a group of people, has confidence in the leader's decisions. To me, I want but truly leading, people respect and desire to emulate to always be led by someone who really cares about my those key characteristics. Then, if the all are placing the concerns, and not their own political agenda. needs of the whole above themselves, you have a group My term is almost uo, but I wont stop striving to be the that can attain whatever they desire. A famous acronym type of person I just described and finish sprinting to the for TEAM asserts, Together Everyone Achieves More. line. Of course, theres more to leading than those few In a college setting, if we had the entire student population lines, but nothing is of much value unless this portion of concerned and involved about local and state politics and leadership is used. For those running for student offices, giving constant feedback to their student representatives, then you my gauntlet is dropped, and I challenge you to ensure that youre can imagine the power that the collective force would possess. That doing it for the betterment of SUU and our students before your t power would then serve the students, and the collective interests of own personal desires. the entire group would be served. Micah Paul Keith is the SUUSA president. He can be contacted Encouraging involvement is the challenge to next years student leaders. We can and need to improve the voice of students. Even atkeit7029suu.edu. . Political jargon should be questioned Elections are upon us again. That means another two weeks of people who you dont know going out of their way to say hello to and free food! you, a lot of This being the first election in five years that I have absolutely no part in, I would like to dispense some advice for students. There are those of you who will say elections are a popularity contest just like it was in high school. To those I say, you are right, but that is because we are uninformed voters and we make it that way. Unlike high school, in college, student issues are real, students can affect major change and students have a legitimate voice. This is the greatest time of year because we the students can flex our voter muscles and choose who we want to represent us. To help you wade through all the political I will identify a few key issues and buzz words to listen for that perhaps will help you ask the right questions to candidates. First, if you hear the words promote or increase student involvement, what does that mean? Do they mean that they are going to involve more students in the decision making process or that they are going to have more activities? In previous years, newly-electecandidates promised to increase student involvement only to appoint a select BRET j. group of their friends to leadership positions. So here is the question to all the candidates, which students do you want to involve and how do you want to get them involved? Second, if you hear the words accountability or being more accountable to students, what do they mean? Being accountable to students can have two facets'. First, to most, accountability means putting the needs of students above those in office or it could mean keeping students in the know about cqrrent issues. The other facet of accountability deals with the method of how to be accountable. With the 6000 plus students attending SUU, being accountable to students requires creative ideas to be able to reach and inform students of decisions and issues. Being accountable is more than an occasional pep talk in the Journal, however. non-spea- The question to candidates should be, how are you going to be accountable to students and what means will you use to inform students of the decisions you make on their behalf? Finally, the time honored platform of being the voice of the students. This platform really deals with student involvement and accountability. Being the voice of the students has nothing to do with name tags and red shirts, it deals with inclusion of all students in decisions made by student association leaders. Being the voice of the students means you are in touch with Joe Student. Many times candidates for office are recycled leaders who have never gone a semester without a student leader scholarship, and for them tuition increases mean nothing. Being the voice of the students means being able to talk to all students and taking student concerns as your own, not automatically siding with administrative decisions to be viewed as the Golden Student Diplomat. Student leaders should be the voice of students, not the administration. We should really listen and ask when candidates use this platform because it is easier said than done. If there is a lesson to be learned for us this year, it is that no candidate running for office is completely qualified. Each candidate has Ins or her strengths and weaknesses, how he or she campaigns to their strengths and weaknesses NELSON will indicate the type of leader they will be. If a candidate has platforms that campaign to the weaknesses of his or her opponent, you can expect a year of empty campaign promises and mediocre representation. To ieflect on this year, policies have changed, tuition is going up and student fees were spent on our behalf. How involved were you in the decision making processes, how accountable were your leaders to your concerns, and how well do you feel your voice was heard? Alas, enjoy your free pizza, and let the campaigning begin! NELSON non-spea- d Brel j. Nelson ts the director for the The KPchael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service. He can be reached at leavittcentersuu.edu. 586-775- 9 Copy Chief Ashley Langston, Graphics Editor Lncisey hferward Ad Designer David Stevenson, Office Manager Ashlee Nelson, Staff Writers: Scott Monroe, Michael Nielson, McKenzie Romero, Hd6e Srrith, 586-775- 586-548- fCU 586-548- 8 Accent Editor Elzabeth Bowler, Sports Editor Darren Vaughan, Photo Editor Abby Palmer, 865-844- 3 Web Editor Jared Rose, 586-775-8 P ITO R$ 8 8 sTaii Dadi What issues should SUUSA address next year? 8 8 Operations Manager John S. Gholdston, 586-775- 1 University Journal is published every Monday and Thursday of the academic year by and for student body of Southern Utah University. It is advised by professional faculty and staff in the universitys Commmication Department The views and opinions expressed in the Journal are those of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of the University Journal editorial board. Letters to the editor must be typed and include die authors name and phone number letters must include the same information as those otherwise submitted. Only the name will be pnntod. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. The editor reserves the nghl to edit letters for words and must be submitted by 3 p.m. Thursday length and taste. Letters should be limited to for inclusion in Monday editions or by 3 p m. Monday for inclusion in Thursday editions Submission of a letter does not guarantee publication. Grievances: Any individual with agrievance against the Journal should drect such problem first to the editor. If unresolved, that grievance should then be directed to the operations manager. Any grievance not resolved a that level is referred to the Journal Advisory Council. The the The Journal is cSstribuled free of charge to individuals purchased for 25 certs each. for the first copy. Additional SUU Sharwan Smith Center. Room 176C University Journal University Blvd CedarCity Utah 84720 FAX (435)586-548- 7 copies may be Mail address University Journal address jouma!suu edu PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER PLEASE RECYCLE THIS COPY 2006 SUU University JoumaJ 351 W Freshman Sophomore Elementary education Integrated engineering St. George Funner dances, get students involved. St. George Money for runners (cross country). Thats where the talent is. Family and consumer sciences Las Vegas Scholarships make the process easier. Keith Jensen Sophomore Finance Dallas Sophomore Elementary education Kaysville Cutting out LM Its a joke. 1010. Activities that are fun and dont cost a whole loc. |