The students of Ball State University have gone to the polls and have chosen our new Student Government Association executive slate. I'd like to congratulate both sides for running a very competitive race, and I wish U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative the best of luck for the next year.
I believe that the hopes I have for our new leaders are the same hopes all students have. I want to see the SGA renew our faith that the money allocated to them is not wasted. I want to know that they are working to see that all students are listened to and that student input is valued. I want to feel that they truly are looking out for student's interests and fulfilling their campaign promises.
Campaign promises have been the proverbial Achilles' heel for politicians throughout history. Campaign promises turn perfectly innocent statements into seemingly iron-clad promises. Failure in any one of these is seen as a failure of the administration as a whole.
One of the most infamous failed promises in American politics was George H. W. Bush's promise of "Read my lips. No new taxes." That simple mistake damaged America's view of his presidency. It doesn't really matter how much good work you do because that failure will always appear.
Although taxes have little to do with student government, the executive slate's promises are held to scrutiny as well and failure is remembered for years to come.
I am very proud of the outgoing Team Lisec. They have accomplished most everything they set out to do. They have listened to students and have put a lot of student faith back in SGA. This was the faith lost over many years of students feeling their voices were not being heard and their ideas were not being considered. President Asher Lisec has been a great leader for our school and leaves behind very big shoes to be filled by President Betsy Mills.
When I watched the SGA debates, one thought continuously ran through my mind. Both slates made incredible promises. I heard ideas presented that would either cost thousands of dollars to implement or would require incredible amounts of manpower.
Big promises gain the greatest amount of attention, but I would rather be promised a handful of new things and have those seen to accomplishment, than be promised a world of change only to get a handful.
Both slates set the bar high. It is now up to U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative not to let us down.
SGA is really the best shot we as students have to see things changed in our favor here on campus. I have always thought that having a student on the University Board of Trustees was a wonderful tool for students as well, but SGA seems somehow closer to us.
SGA is budgeted thousands of dollars every year. Students need to see that this money is used for the benefit of as many students as possible. Those in charge need to make sure that everyone is invited to input their ideas.
I wish U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative all the best. Now is the time to do what it promised. Congratulations to the new SGA executive slate. We'll all be watching you.
Write to Alex atapcarroll@bsu.edu
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