Any undergraduate student enrolled with at least one credit and a grade point average of 2.75 is eligible to run for ASUI president or vice president. But there are other intangible qualities the people who represent the entire University of Idaho student body should possess.
ASUI presidents and vice presidents should not only have a fresh vision to improve the future of UI, but also the knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of the university and student government to make their vision reality. It also means being unselfish and working to provide benefits for future generations of Vandals — like current ASUI President Samantha Perez’s extensive audit of the dedicated student fee and proposed zero percent increase.
It’s not another bullet point on a resumè or a checkmark on a list of personal accomplishments — those are just positive side effects of an intense year in office. ASUI president is not just a fancy title, it means hard work managing real money and constituents.
This year’s candidates have reached the end of the campaign trail. They have presented their platforms and showcased their knowledge — or lack thereof — during open forums and in Facebook groups. Months of planning, decision-making and campaigning have boiled down to three days and one unpredictable component of any election — voter turnout.
A democracy is a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and their right to elect leaders, and ASUI is no different. Students are always clamoring to make their voices heard, and for the next two days the future of UI’s student government is in their hands.
But as with any election, there is the danger of candidates being elected based on superficial reasons– physical appearance, unrealistic campaign promises and popularity.
Information about each presidential and vice presidential ticket is available in a variety of mediums: newspaper articles, Facebook pages, websites and word of mouth from friends or peers who might be more informed. Contact the candidates themselves to ask questions about their platforms or goals. Voting is a privilege and responsibility that should not be frivolously carried out with the click of a mouse.
The candidates have done their best to convince you they know what you want. Now it’s your decision which ticket actually does.
— EE