Apathy is the greatest threat to the democratic process, and the University's proud tradition of student self-governance is no exception. According to statistics on the University Board of Elections website, 2007-2010 voter turnout among first through fourth-year students - excluding graduate students - was 42, 35, 49 and 41 percent, respectively. Actual voter turnout is generally lower than the numbers listed above because graduate student turnout is far below that of undergraduate students. This is unacceptable for a university that claims to have among the finest and strongest traditions of student self-governance in higher education.
The UBE is responsible for improving voter turnout and supervising all University-wide student elections - for Student Council, the University Judiciary Committee and the Honor Committee, as well as school and class councils. In the past, the UBE has done a number of things to increase publicity for elections, such as flyering, setting up table tents in dining halls, using online resources and distributing novelties such as coffee during the voting period. These efforts are all well and good, but the responsibility does not rest entirely on the UBE.
Other student groups will do their part to help publicize elections, as well. The Honor Committee, for example, plans to host town hall-style meetings ahead of next month's University-wide elections to raise awareness about its two proposed constitutional amendments. Reaching out to various student groups has been a long-term Student Council goal and election season is no different. "Student Council is about making sure things are transparent, making sure opportunities are available to those who are not already involved in Student Council," President Colin Hood said. Although these efforts are not perfect, we cannot expect them to shoulder the entire burden. Individual students have to play their role in self-governance as well.
The Office of the Dean of Students website listed student self-governance as one of "many long-standing traditions that are unique to Mr. Jefferson's University." Additionally, it states that, "One of UVA's most enduring traditions and strengths is the entrustment of much decision-making to students." Unlike the university experience at other schools, the freedom to govern ourselves grants us opportunities to learn from our varied experiences. As beneficiaries of this tradition, it is our responsibility to maintain self-governance and to participate actively in it.
Although not all students have enough free time to fully participate in these governing organizations, everyone can find time to vote in the student elections. The hours students inevitably spend every week clicking through Facebook or YouTube can instead be spent reading candidates' campaign platforms on important issues and voting on the UBE website. After all, University-wide elections only happen once a year. The real reason students do not participate is most likely apathy. The idea that student governance does not affect our lives cannot be further from the truth. Student Council, UJC, the Honor Committee and class and school councils are all integral parts of our college experience.
UBE statistics also show an interesting trend: a greater proportion of underclassmen vote than upperclassmen. Hood said underclassmen tend to turn out en mass because "communications for campaigns are easier for first-years. It is easier to connect to first years due to the fact that first years live on Grounds, live in dorms, have RAs and eat in dining halls." But this does not explain why second-year students still have a much higher turnout rate than fourth-year students. Greater academic workloads, the pressures of graduate school examinations such as the LSATs or MCATs, and the necessity of planing for life after college all contribute to less available time and more stress. Consequently, student self-governance is probably the last thing on their minds. Nevertheless, preoccupation is no excuse to shirk from our duty. Regardless of how busy you are, I think we could all find the one or two hours necessary to research and vote responsibly.
Student self-governance can only be sustained by our collective individual efforts. "I think it is the responsibility of everyone to vote," Hood added. "This is much larger than just Student Council." This is much larger than any one student or any one organization. Voting on its own is not sufficient to sustain our model of self-governance, but it is the most important part. I hope everyone will take the time to vote and contribute to making our University a model of student governance in the upcoming elections.
George Wang's column appears Mondays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at g.wang@cavalierdaily.com.
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