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Show N U V E R T S lOURNAl EDITORS PACES Rachel Glidden, Tuesday, February 21 , 2006 Marc Dotson, Election change disconcerting, affects students t'H NO, 9 8 HEW'. MAIN THt 586-775- 586-548- I ojt u you siwru?;?! SUUSA election decisions can only be explained disastrous. one way We have prided ourselves at SUU on the success of efforts to register students to vote, encouraging them to make more informed decisions and get their voices heard. Yet somewhere along the line, SUUSA officers have failed to do the one thing they encourage inform the students. others to do In some respects, we can understand the reasoning behind the decision to move the election dates. Certainly it is important to have individuals who are well trained in their positions at the forefront of our school. However, changing the primary election dates, without changing the declaration of candidacy effort to deadlines and without making an all-owho student inform every possible may or may is an office for to run not want example of poor government. Moreover, moving election times so late in the year shows bad planning. We encourage the SUUSA Senate to pass resolution Election Again Part Deux to to let students to declare allow a opening Natalie Gerber. Director Elections with candidacy The senate meets tonight to vote on the bill and if it passes the deadline will be Wednesday at 5 p.m. Passing the resolution will not fix all the problems, but will be a step toward cleaning up the mess that has been made. Currently only a few people have declared their intent to run for office. We encourage students to contact Gerber if they are interested in running for 1 YO UtOTO SAID IV I Dim. ut 10-0- 6, By-La- 22-ho- ur office. Contact information and election requirements can be found on the SUUSA Web site. We recognize that students may believe the deadline change doesnt affect them. In reality, it affects us all. The elections decisions are disconcerting and disturbing. a U.S. Imagine the outrage that would occur it no one and presidential election date was moved was informed or allowed to voice an opinion. Why should SUUSA elections be any different? T he elections are serious. T hey are a big deal. When students vote for a new president or for senators in their schools and colleges, they are effectively to giving the elected representatives permission next the year. speak for them throughout If elected, these candidates will become the people who make decisions on school policies, allocate student-oriente- d money to different events and for will be the candidates these If elected, purposes. ones who speak to the Board of Regents, the Board of Trustees and even the Utah State Legislature in defense and on behalf of the entire student body. The power we have given to certain SUUSA members has been exploited. We should hold elected officials accountable for their actions. We ask the Senate, Judicial Council and all of SUUSA to take proper measures to ensure that this does not happen again. There must be a balance of power between all of the governing agencies to guarantee the best possible learning environment for all of us. The opinions expressed above 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 Smith Center. UNIVERSITY OURNAL Spring Break service trip rewarding With Spring Break around the corner, I would like to take the time to tell SUU students about an opportunity they may not be aware of. A group of approximately 30 students, as well as a number of faculty and staff, will spend their Spring Break serving in Guay mas, Mexico. While a week in a Mexican beach community A may sound like all fun and games to people at first glance, this group will be doing something to help others as well. I Having participated in this activity last year, worthwhile a more than is can honestly say this I opportunity for students to give back. In fact, found it so worthwhile the first time around, I am going on the trip again this year. While there are some memories outside of the things we did for others that made the trip so fun last year, to me, nothing was more gratifying than seeing the impact DARREN our presence had on everyone we were able to help. to in use can giving help However, our group always the Mexican people. One of the traditions is handing out toys to the children, and students can help by finding something to donate to the cause. It is impossible to put into words both the joy felt by the children when they are given these toys, and the unbelievable feeling the people on the trip get from seeing the looks on the kids faces. When I went on this trip last year, we also did things such club, teaching English in an as helping out at an after-schokitchen and building a a in school, soup working elementary house. This year, we plan on doing more of the same, and I know we are all looking forward to touching even more peoples lives this time around. While it may seem that what the rest of the student body can do in comparison is miniscule, nothing could be further from the truth. Any contribution that students can provide would be greatly appreciated, especially by the children. On a personal note, Mexico is a very special place to me. It is part of my heritage, and as I have gradually learned to speak Spanish, it has definitely become a major part of my life. It is an exciting opportunity for me to be around a culture which I usually only get to see from afar, and also to give back to those who are not as fortunate as I VAUGHAN am. While I would consider myself poor when I look at we my bank account, all I have to do is look at the people are going to help and I realize I have no room to complain. I hope my fellow students will be willing to step up and help those less fortunate, and bring smiles to many faces. BREAK Darren Vaughan is the sports editor for the University Journal. He can be reached at dvaughansuujournal.com. Director vXplains deadline, awaits decision When I was appointed to be this year's SUUSA Elections Director, five I feelings of inadequacy immediately set in. have never, in my for a years at SUU, been involved in student government (except brief two week period last spring). I was thrust head first into a realm of politics, procedure, and permission. and My lack of experience virtually guaranteed errors in judgment elections as of One efforts. of goals my my procedure, regardless director was to make those errors as few and subtle as possible. I have already failed to meet that goal. I contacted Tiffany August, activities vice president, on Feb. 1 to go over the elections calendar. She informed me that the executive council was thinking about changing the election "As dates from March 22 and 29 to 1 said 1 8. the OK, and the just keep me informed. In this moment a serious miscommunication occurred. I thought August was informing me of the date change when in (some reality she was simply asking Natalie my permission. In my ignorance of policy and procedure, I failed to recognize that it was I, not the executive council, who had authority to change the election dates. One week later, when I learned of my mistake, I was presented with the option to change elections back to their original time. Because I had already announced the date change I decided to I could support the EC in their decision under the condition that move the declaration date back one week so as to provide more time to declare candidacy. This is where my second big mistake occurred. I failed to announced that declarations would be recognize procedure and This 22. Feb. until legislation has not yet passed and it accepted was a violation of election bylaws for me to announce it. As it stands right now, the candidacy declaration deadline has passed for those wanting to run for executive council and Humanities & Social Sciences senator positions. Because of a & technicality, any candidates wanting to run for Performing Visual Arts, Computing, Integrated Engineering & Technology, Science, Business, or Education senator can still declare. Any candidate wanting to run for an executive council position orforHSS senator may give theirforms to Lois Bulloch in Student Services (ST201). Those declaration forms will not be officially accepted until the senate votes on the resolution tonight at 7 p.m. it stands right now, the candidacy declaration deadline has passed for for those wanting to run for positions) . . If the resolution fails, I will personally call all those who for submitted applications closed positions and offer my most sincere apology. If the resolution passes, I will immediately contact all new candidates and inform them Gerber that their candidacy has been accepted. Also, if the resolution passes, anyone wanting to declare candidacy may do so up until 5 p.m. Wednesday. I do not anticipate any further changes in the elections calendar. There is still a minute, yet existent, possibility that the elections dates may change back to their original dates. August was wrong when she said otherwise in Thursdays papei. Rest assured, any further changes will follow exact SUUSA government procedure Natalie Gerber is the SUUSA elections director. She can be reached at gerb6695suumai1.net. WtHWtlimfiPAIt:tff1WITlWM OUTHCRN DIRECTING STAFF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Editor Vale White Campus News Opinion Rachel Glidden Associate Editor - City News Opinion Marc Dotson Associate Editor 'uaOCi 586-775- 0 586-775- 9 - Da di What does SUUSA do for you? 586-548- 8 Accent Editor Elizabeth Bowler, Sports Editor Darren Vaughan. Photo Editor Abby Palmer, Web Editor Jared Rose, 586-775-8 2 586-- 1 992 3 Staff Writers: Seed Monroe, Michael Nielson, Ryann Rasmissen, McKenzie Romero, Hollie Smith, Krystle Whitney, Copy Chief Ashley Langston, Graphics Editor Undsey Hanturd, Ad Designer David Stevenson, Office Manager Ashlee Nelson, Advertising 8 3 8 8 8 Operations Manager John S. Gholdston, 586-775- 1 the academic year by and for University Journal is published every Monday and Thursday of the tte student body of Southern Utah University. It is advised by professional faculty and staff in in the Journal are those universitys Communication Department. The views and opinions expressed of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student of the University Journal editorial is body in general. The unsignededitorial directly above the opinion E mailed board. Letters to the editor must be typed and include the authors name and phone number. submitted. those otherwise Only the name will be printed. letters must include the same information as for Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. The editor reserves the right to edit letters words and must be submitted by 3 p m. Thursday length and taste Letters slxmld 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. the Gnevances: Any indivi dual with agrievance against the Journal sliould direct such problem first to editor. If unresolved, that grievance should then be directed id the operations manager. Any grievance not resolved at that level is referred to the Journal Advisory Council. be The Journal is distributed free of charge to individuals for the first copy. Addtional copies may purchased for 25 cents each. Smith Center Room 176C Mail address University Journal, 351 W University Journal SUU Sharwan address joumaIsuu edu FAX (435)586-548- 7 University Blvd .CedarCity, Utah 84720 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER PLEASE RECYCLE THIS COPY 2006 SUU University Journal Tiffany Dennett Freshman Elementary education Springdale Urn, I Im not sure. dont know much about it. Ryan Sanders Senior Spanish Castle Dale Nothing. Because I even know what Freshman Athletic training Lake Point Junior Political science Pleasant Grove SUUSA are the dont voice? for the student it is. body. Without them SUU would not be enjoyable to attend. They put on a lot of great activities for us to get to know other people. Lindsey Loveless Freshman Communication Salt Lake City They plan fun student activities like dances that make it enjoyable to be going to SUU. |