On Wednesday night, the results of the Spring 2014 Student Government election were announced, and the Students Party officially chose to boycott the presentation. My name is Olga Rodriguez, president of the Students Party, and I would like to explain why.
It’s no secret that Student Government is run by Swamp Party. As SG continues to put more restrictions on elections, it becomes increasingly difficult for oppositions to gain footing.
Students consistently ask Students Party campaigners, “Why are there so few of you and so many Swamp campaigners?” Unbeknownst to many students, there are restrictions on parties from meeting outside of what has been deemed the “election period.”
This is just one example of restrictions keeping oppositions small. Students DO want to learn about SG as well as make sure their voices are heard. Students Party believes all parties should have the right to inform students on issues and what is going on in SG. Making people passionate about issues takes time and consistency — exactly what opposition parties are denied.
Swamp Party wants you to think more than 90 seats in Senate is indicative of its success in a democratic election, but this is not a democracy. Democracy is based on “checks and balances” and without the “check,” there is no balance. We hope that having boycotted the election results presentation, students will see the injustice present within SG and they will join The Students Party in demanding these changes from our “representatives.”
[A version of this letter to the editor ran on page 7 on 2/21/2014 under the headline “Why Students Party boycotted"]
