In case you haven't already guessed based on all those flier-pushers lined up across campus, it's that time of year again - the always entertaining, sometimes irritating Student Government elections.
While we usually relish this point in the semester to take in all the amusing party names and mud-slinging, we have to admit we were a bit distracted by all that online voting controversy.
But not to worry.
We still had the chance to debate among ourselves and come up with some endorsements that you can take with you to the polls, because, unfortunately, you will have to actually leave your computer to cast your ballot.
On that note, we recognize now more than ever there is a need for new life in SG. While the current administration has accomplished some things for students - like extending library hours during exam week and allowing us to finally use credit cards on campus - we can't afford to allow business as usual to continue.
And that's where the Orange and Blue Party comes in.
While underdog parties of the past have had trouble getting their acts together - who could forget the debacle that was the Pants Party? - we feel confident that Orange and Blue has just the right amount of motivation and familiarity with SG to make the right change.
There's no denying that the Gator Party has experience working the complicated SG system, but we're not so sure experience in a broken system is such a good thing.
For Student Body president, we endorse Orange and Blue candidate Tommy Jardon. His dedication to seeing online voting become a reality, as well as his promise to wipe out so-called "legacy" positions, make him right for the job. As a second-year law student, Jardon has been on campus long enough to know what students need and how SG has failed them in the past. While his opponent Kevin Reilly may have the luxury of incumbent status, we feel he has become part of the SG problem rather than the solution.
For Student Body vice president, we endorse Orange and Blue's Frank Bracco. The former Chomp the Vote executive director seeks to eliminate useless cabinets - something that should have been done a long time ago. Though Yooni Yi's resume is filled with on-campus experience, we feel that Bracco's candid style and common-sense approach would be a better fit.
The one position where experience wins out is Student Body treasurer. For that, we endorse the Gator Party's Paul Drayton. As the current Student Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman, Drayton monitors SG's $13.2 million budget and was the first to install a mid-year review to retrain and analyze spending habits for student organizations. The fact that he was willing to initiate a change to the current system while still responsibly accounting for all that student money wins him our full support.
Finally, we support the Orange and Blue candidates for Senate. The party's plan for a "Wiki platform" illustrates how they will reach out to the needs of all students on campus with constantly evolving ideas. Whether it is making the 250 pages of free student printing available at more computer labs on campus or something as simple as keeping the SG Web site up to date, we have to throw our support to a party with the ultimate goal of student representation.
