Editorial:
Students need a second option in MSA election
Published Nov. 10, 2009
The Missouri Students Association presidential election began Monday night. However, calling it an election is a bit of a stretch. The only choice students have is to click the button to vote for Tim Noce and Danielle Bellis. There is no option for no confidence or anything similar.
Offering literally no other choice makes the election pointless. That is not because of Noce and Bellis, personally, but for the sake of a competitive election where the best slate succeeds.
It could also help motivate Noce to work even harder if he could see the number of students who not only voted, but also voted specifically for him. He can't see this without a no confidence voting option. If 10 percent of people who voted were to vote no confidence, he might work to show those people why he is the best person for the job.
There were also minor technical problems that stopped people from being able to vote for about two hours. This is much better than last year when the election had to be completely moved back a week because of technical difficulties, but it still sours some people on voting.
Having any sort of election in which there is only one option is undemocratic. It might also dissuade people who do not know very much about MSA from voting in future elections.
Students deserve more than one choice for the leader of their governing body.
Comments (2)
4:54 p.m., Nov. 19, 2009
Shannon said:
Slight issue with this story. The MSA advertised elections in many ways for several weeks looking for candidates. There were MU Info's and information on their website. If you don't notice the advertisements, then it's your fault you have no one else to vote for. Also, Noce spent the time he would have spent campaigning going to student groups meeting them and sitting in on their meetings to learn what the needs of the student body are. Don't be a hater because you can't vote for someone else. You should have ran.
11:50 a.m., Nov. 13, 2009
Beating a Dead horse said:
I feel like there was a similar story in the front page of your newspaper a few weeks ago, maybe the maneater should have thrown together a few people that could have run against them... But wait they didn't! It is sad that this editorial is a direct hit on the people who want to serve the student body. At least SOMEONE stepped up and at least SOMEONE wants to serve. The more we hate on the people who want to represent us, the more discouraged they will get. I think we should use this great opportunity to get real things done on campus. Students should just tell them what they want and stop complaining about the fact that no one wanted to run against them.