Every semester, the Alligator Editorial Board endorses a Student Government party, candidate or issue to better help you, the students, decide whom to vote for when you step up to the polls.
We interview each party about its inner working knowledge of SG and what timelines it has drawn up for the opening of a 24-hour library or the expansion of RTS services.
Well, great. Each party had some nice things to say and ideas that really wouldn't be that difficult to follow through on. But honestly, we were too distracted by the fact that no one votes anyway to be able to take any of that into serious consideration.
The Editorial Board has decided not to endorse a party or candidate this semester, because honestly, we don't care. We'll cover them either way.
We want you to pick. That is the most important thing.
You have a problem with tuition hikes? How do you feel about how much money was given to Gator Growl to pay for a band you may or may not like?
Hello. SG is your outlet to do something about that.
And for some reason, only a small fraction of the Student Body ever comes out to vote. That fraction doesn't include those of you who vote only so you can collect the infamous "I voted" sticker.
Why? Why don't more people care where $17 million of their fees is going?
We know you have been made aware of the elections. Party members are shoving fliers down your throat on every campus sidewalk. We've run stories on the front page of the paper.
What we learned from our endorsement interviews with the parties this semester is that they both have the ideas, the means and the abilities to make a change for the better at UF.
We'll do our duty to continue reporting on each one in the future, and we'll do it objectively, just like we're supposed to.
But if you're tired of reading the same old Student Senate story every Wednesday (honestly, we're running out of headline ideas for them), go out and vote for someone who will make a change on the Senate floor.
Semester after semester, we hear people ripping the parties to shreds.
"Unite senators are just there to promote their frats."
"The (whatever-it's-called-this-semester) party is just there to argue."
Whatever. Each party slates an idiot or two who doesn't belong in SG. We know that. But don't make the mistake of assuming every candidate doesn't have great ideas or doesn't sincerely want to represent you to the best of his or her ability, no matter his or her party affiliation.
Go vote for them. Hold SG accountable. Vote for who you want to vote for.
Neither the Editorial Board nor the parties can force you to care about SG. We can simply do our best to inform you about the issues. The three of us have the same goal: We want to serve you.
But at some point, you have to start serving yourself.
