Fewer candidates, fewer voters in 2010-2011 SGA elections

There were 6,222 students eligible to vote in the 2010-2011 Student Government Association elections  March 31. 

However, 1,005 students -- 16 percent voted.  

"There's a percentage of students who are non-traditional that should be factored into the equation," said Marlena Baxter, a senior sociology major and education minor from Sumter, S.C.

Baxter is the SGA executive secretary.   

 "Also, some students just don't [vote]," Baxter said.

This percentage [16] is not abnormal.  Last year, 22 percent of students voted in the SGA election.  In the 2008-2009 election, 17 percent of students voted.  

This year, the few candidates may have attributed to the low voter turnout.

"Due to the low number of individuals running for office, more students did not feel the need to participate," said Jonathan Jackson, vice president of external affairs and president-elect 2010-2011.

"Students must realize and understand how important their votes are for these officials that make critical decisions for the University," Jackson said.

Some executive positions including president, secretary of commuter student affairs, secretary of the treasury, and Mr. WSSU had one candidate. Candidates running unopposed are consistent with previous years.  Last year, vice presidents of external and internal affairs and executive secretary all ran unopposed for 2009-2010. 

"I feel I ran unopposed because there aren't enough black males on campus willing to step out of their shell and participate," said Cornell Jones, a junior mass communications major.

Jones is Mr. WSSU 2010-2011. 

"I plan to change this as Mr. WSSU through leadership and mentoring programs."

Linda Cole, said that the SGA elections are usually the first Wednesday in April.  Cole is the University's program associate in the office of student affairs.  

"I didn't know elections had happened.  I wasn't aware of who won."

The senior class does not have a vice president or, like last election, a Mr. Senior.  

Christa Martin, a senior business administration and marketing major from Raleigh, said she believes this low number of candidates is due to a lack of publicity. 

"The first time I heard of the candidates, they were giving their speeches," Martin said.  

"If I wanted to run, I wouldn't have had any idea when, where, or how to apply."

Jackson said that students may have felt that you have to have certain qualities or experience to run for these positions, when in reality, anybody truly can do them. 

"SGA will work next year to make the positions more transparent, so students truly can see what it takes," Jackson said.