Student election apathy

Posters were plastered around the campus. Fliers, business cards and candy were passed out. Facebook statuses and text message reminders were sent.

Candidates tried their best to attract their peers to the Student Government Association elections, but when the time for voting came around, less than 1 percent of the Richland student population cast ballots.

"Pretty much, I voted because my friend was running," Richland student Bradley Njoku said.

The SGA has been active on campus for more than 10 years and acts as a liaison between the administration and the student body.

The elections for SGA president, vice president and senators were held Sept. 28-29. Campaigning started the week before.

Out of an estimated 20,000 registered students attending Richland, only 139 stopped by the Student Lounge to vote.

According to SGA adviser Bobbie Harrison, the voting numbers tend to fluctuate but the numbers have been fairly high until this year.

Candidates are required to attend an orientation where they are given ides on how they might publicize their run.

Despite candidates attending the session and receiving suggestions from advisers,  Harrison said that this year's hopefuls did not do enough to promote their candidacy. She and several students believe that was the reason why the voter turnout was so low.

"Honestly, I think that they are not well-advertised," finance and business student Ami Tran said. "Sometimes I know about the elections; sometimes I don't."

Quesha Ckett, a freshman studying physical science, did not even know Richland had an SGA.

She also wishes more had been done to promote the elections, such as a mass email to students and in-class announcements by professors.

Others, such as government professor Michael Iachetta, believe the low voter turnout is a result of students' lack of interest.

"Students [believe] that the student government at RLC does not have enough power to make changes in their lives in any significant way, so they do not believe it is worth their time and effort to investigate candidates and vote," he said.

Newly elected student government president Tabeth Nkangoh, who handed out business cards and candy to students around campus, also attributes the low number of votes to student apathy.

"It's a reality," he said.

Harrison said that many students get involved with SGA just to "spice up" their resumé. She said that the officers on board should work together and come in with a clear understanding of what student government does.

As far as the election goes, Harrison is disappointed with the turnout, the poor advertising around campus and the lack of creativity with the candidates' campaigns.

"Sometimes there are deep valleys where [voter] numbers are so low it is almost not worth it," Harrison said.

"But I believe that the body on board could truly make a difference and advocate student needs if they invest their time to finding out what those needs are."