ASUSU
wants to shake up election process
By Jackson Olsen
February 27, 2008 | The ASUSU Executive Council could
be giving the annual officer election process a makeover
within the month, ASUSU President Peter McChesney said.
McChesney, who authored the new student legislation,
said it would make the election process "smoother" for
both candidates and voters alike. In part because there
would be fewer elected positions, and, if the proposed
legislation is passed, elections would last only one
week rather than two.
Other than these, the most notable changes would be
the advent of a presidential/vice presidential ticket,
where a presidential candidate would select a running
mate before elections begin. The two would run and campaign
together against other similarly paired opponents, and
would win or lose together.
"The majority of other colleges and universities are
doing it this way," McChesney said. "To be honest, Utah
State's been stuck in the past and I think it's time
for a change." Click
here to see how other universities conduct their elections.
Another substantial change would be that the president
would then weigh in to appoint other students to the
Executive Council's positions. Currently each spot on
the council is an elected position. Click here to see a listing of positions
and a description of ASUSU's current structure.
But President McChesney's optimism for the legislation
and confidence in its success is not shared by all of
his ASUSU associates. While most are in favor of the
proposal, including HASS Senator Nick West, Executive
Vice President Ashley Johnson, and Service VP German
Ellsworth, members like Kevin Abernathy, the academic
senate president, are against it.
Referring to the presidential powers of appointing
his entire cabinet, Abernathy said that it gives "too
much power [to] one individual."
The real question, however, is what the students will
think of all this. If the proposed changes were to be
approved by the Executive Council and the Academic Senate,
then the decision would be left up to the students:
ticket, or no ticket? Change, or no change?
So far, students have remained somewhat apathetic to
the issue. An article similar to this one was published
in the Utah Statesman several weeks ago, but is still
waiting to receive any feedback from students, positive
or negative.
For now, the pending legislation has been put on the
backburner as this year's election cycle is already
in full swing, with primary voting starting tomorrow.
McChesney said he plans to push the amendment through
before his term of service expires in May.
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