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Show -- 12- DIXIE SUN Though the position of student body president is an unopposed race this year, this doesnt mean we should shy away from voting. Student elections mean more than just picking who gets their own cubicles inside the Gardner Student Center. We are choosing individuals who will handle funds, plan activities and represent the students on the board of trustees. In addition, students will be voting on nine Dixie State College Student Association constitutional amendments this year. Its not good enough to let a small sample of the schools enrollment be the deciding factor in what happens during the 2012-201- 3 school year. not Its good enough that 86 percent of us dont take five minutes to click a mouse and vote. It will take a little more effort by those of us who do understand how important this is to show those who dont care why its important. Were dealing with students who just dont seem to care. If students truly understood what each position represents, then perhaps the position of student body president wouldnt be an unopposed one. The following are descriptions of the three elected positions. According to the Student Election Bylaws Article I Section II, the student body president is responsiblefor chairing the executive council, vetoing legislation passed by the executive council (such as the constitutional amendments we will vote on in next weeks election), chairing the BY MATTY JACOBSON Opinion Editor Heres a little riddle for you: When is an election not an election? Im amazed I cant find a solution to that question. The answer is purely fact. An election is not an election when a person runs unopposed. Heres my review for this particularly sticky topic: A person who runs unopposed on accident is rated one out of one successful terms. Let any terms thereafter come once that person has proved him- - or herself worthy. People who run unopposed just because they know nobody else is running (and would therefore get the position whether or not they were qualified) gets a rating of, well, one successful term. This isnt something that needs to be at the expense of voters, you know. But youd better believe after that term they would get a rating of five out of five years of having socks that bunch up in their shoes and a daily visit from a random religion looking to recruit new members. pun-saturat- ed - ; WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY" OPINION appointing committee for appointed positions within DSCSA, and preparing the budget for student government. Not listed in the bylaws, but should be taken note of, is the student body presidents representation of the students on the board of trustees the ultimate decision makers of all things DSC. According to the same bylaws, the student body vice president, also called the vice president of academics, shall chair the student senate, appoint recommended senators from each department, and shall have power to act upon responsibilities delegated to that office by the student body president. In ways this position is extra important because the vice president chooses senators. The senators represent students in areas such as obtaining funding for projects within our academic departments. Finally, according to the election bylaws, the vice president of clubs chairs the Inter-Clu- b Council. The vice president of clubs will appoint recommended club representatives and will have any other responsibilities given by the student body president. These responsibilities are no different than what the vice president of clubs has been doing, but since this individual is responsible for appointing individuals, DSCSA felt it necessary to make this an elected position. The student body president and vice president of clubs positions are unopposed in this years election, but dont let that Obviously elections are held so the governed can decide whom they want as their leader. So I suppose if only one person wants to lead, then the public should be OK with that. But why would election norks prGsii3iiiia! Court have spelled and the Supreme out a tew The U.S. Constitution sets out the rules and Congress over course of U.S. the evolved that have customs history, mote rules A few parts of the process are Popular Who All citizens 18 or older who are not convicted felons can vote in presidential elections; must register to vote in their state of residence People unable reach the polls to on Election Day can vote by mail Since the 1 930s, between 49 percent and 63 percent of eligible Americans have voted in presidential elections "Winner take all in all the states but Maine and Nebraska; presidential candidate largest popular vote gets all the states electoral votes Because of this rule , the candidate with the largest popular vote might not win the electoral vote; that with happened in 1876, 1888 and in 2000 Electoral 7) Electoral .A, ) College U 'Electors are the 538 officials who cast the votes that elect the president and vice president Number of electors for each state is proportional to the states population . V" To be elected president, a candidate must get 270 electoral votes ' If no candidate gets 270 electoral votes I the House LOWEST POPULATION California Seven states plus the District of Columbia have three electoral votes 3 electors the president from the tpp three candidates, the 1800 and 1824 MOTE Wyoming 54 electors I of Representatives chooses HIGHEST POPULATION elections decided were this way Pditical parties Not provided for in Constitution; governed by slate and federal laws A new party can get its candidate on ballot by collecting a certain number of signatures specified by state law ' Until 1832, president and vice president were sometimes of different parties; today they are always from the same party A Democratic Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson )PJ in 1792 Johi Republican Party I i.iv7 was born in the 1850s by ante slavery activists was Source U S Constitution, World Almanac, Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee 2005 MCI How DSC presidential elections work: you vote, discourage you or confuse you. Voters can still write in individuals to fill these positions. However, those interested in being write-i- n candidates need to inform Jordon Sharp, director of student involvement, of your desire to do so. Once a write-i- n candidate has done this then that person may be written in by his or her peers. The school will move forward with or without us. But if were going to do something, why dont that person feel the need to convince the governed that he or she has what it takes if theres no challenging opponent? Now Im not saying a person who runs unopposed will be a bad leader. Brody Mikesell, after all, is a great guy. It just so happens hes the only guy. He could be like George Washington. Its true that was a rather unique situation in that Tiew 7Wd if A 1 V CJ I rr ' ! fit wi a Ai-.- u u N.I'I tin tr vt .' j f ip-TP- A P 'rLu.' D I 3, camj alter to it the lim the a Are students even aware (or do they care at all) that the presidency will be handed to someone? Is there someone out there who for really wanted to run the position but couldn for some reason? Would students elect me iflh run? the Well, we all know one answer to that last is of course, but that' beside the point. For whatever reason students either felt the; didnt want the job, or they didnt know thejo1 was available. I hope H' the latter reason. But if the former is indeed the reason, then we cant complain if future student body g0' iron he s: :eb. Joe incei sop jorfi far n he st Dixie wok Hunt! stude renio: major curre woh Pat theft We si the n. facul oU datec we eminent isnt what wanted or expected then state V$' Pose Pat I. , r U K . 3 by the way. Luckily for Dixie State College, our elected officials dont hold our very lives in our hands. However, we are in an election year where an unopposed candidate will fill the office of student body president. And yes, we should act as though race our lives are on Hindenburg appointed a one Adolf Hitler as chancellor of Germany, ) AS. had competing against universities. This is amt vitation to help everyone else get on board. It all starts with show ing you care by casting your vote from Feb. 27 through March 1. everyone wanted him to lead anyway, and the real political race at that first election was for the vice presidency, but you get my point. Conversely, an elected official who ran opposed but won anyway can still be detrimental to a society. I mean look at what Paul von Hindenburg did to Germany, and he had four opponents. - b of the success theyve no Dv aoijt boen itfifr U) we try to be the best at it? The students running for office are committed to it. The Dixie Sun is committed to it. Del Beatty, our dean of students, is committed to it. More than half of our sports teams are already there because j'4' vV if Us. bViKa. S?. mie UQ&SS vsf.y Pune; the o 1 i AA 5, v v ?i ' V i Yi.if (ff 'I , ' Yi ' , , U ,!V' i V f! k 1 h r ivM s w m 13 rt H I p the cour you need to sell something? Have)'011 been looking for a part-tim- e employee Are you trying to find a car or scooter? Neetf Need to advertise your company? find a new roommate? font; Dixie fairr ( phon, div,Pc t To place a classified ad, contact Taylr at Forbes at or by email 435-705-19- 77 dixiesunadsdixie.edu Of |
