While we realize that many students on campus do not care about the student government, Associated Students Inc. (the organization formerly known as Associated Students), we were surprised to find AS does not care about itself.
On Wednesday, April 11, the candidates for 2007-2008̢۪s student body president, vice president of finance and senators were verified at the All-Candidate Meeting. Incumbents Juan Pablo Moncayo and Russel Statham, president and vice president finance respectively, are both running unopposed.
There are no senatorial candidates for the colleges of Arts & Humanities, Health & Human Services or Social Sciences. With the exception of the College of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, every other college has only one candidate running. It doesn̢۪t seem like much of a competition.
As many know, voter turnout among young people is low. According to a Washington Post article from 2004, about 51 percent of citizens ages 18-29 participated in the 2004 presidential election. Compared to participation in Fresno State̢۪s presidential election, that̢۪s a deluge.
In the AS presidential election in 2006, 1,398 of an approximate 22,098 students participated — barely more than 6 percent.
So why is AS not doing everything it can to promote the rapidly approaching election, which is scheduled for April 24-26? Why isn̢۪t AS bombarding the student body to encourage students to register as write-in candidates for the colleges that currently have no potential senators?
Associated Students originally purchased six advertisements from The Collegian to promote the elections. After the All-Candidate Meeting, AS pulled the remaining four ads that had not yet run. Thanks to a terrific advertising staff, this is not of great financial consequence to The Collegian.
However, we find it sad that AS has made the decision not to promote the election. We understand that the majority of candidates don̢۪t exist or are running unopposed, but we believe this lack of effort on the part of AS will only lead to even greater apathy from Fresno State̢۪s student body.
John Doe • Nov 24, 2009 at 3:32 pm
After reading the original editorial about this issue as well as the recent correction on the newspapers behalf I feel that more needs to be done. It has come to my attention that the so called “terrific advertising staff” was led astray by some one in their own house. The ads in question were not even canceled by anyone that has to do with Associated Students.
As for the “great financial consequence to The Collegian,” well whose fault is that really? Also, isn’t it the job of a newspaper to inform the people of things that could affect them. It would seem that political elections would be important enough for the newspaper to do some kind of story on; apparently The Collegian did not think so. For this editorial to have been published without checking the facts is unacceptable.
The real problem with this issue is not about the money but the fact that one important organization on campus was trashed on by another for no reason. Unfortunately that issue was left out by The Collegian and probably would never have come to light.
The true problem is that communication between these two organizations has to be worked on so that they truly benefit the students that they actually work for. If the two organizations that are meant to inform and make better changes for the students of this campus cannot seem to get a long, for whatever reason, then I feel unfortunate to be returning next semester.
John Doe • Apr 19, 2007 at 5:16 pm
After reading the original editorial about this issue as well as the recent correction on the newspapers behalf I feel that more needs to be done. It has come to my attention that the so called “terrific advertising staff” was led astray by some one in their own house. The ads in question were not even canceled by anyone that has to do with Associated Students.
As for the “great financial consequence to The Collegian,” well whose fault is that really? Also, isn’t it the job of a newspaper to inform the people of things that could affect them. It would seem that political elections would be important enough for the newspaper to do some kind of story on; apparently The Collegian did not think so. For this editorial to have been published without checking the facts is unacceptable.
The real problem with this issue is not about the money but the fact that one important organization on campus was trashed on by another for no reason. Unfortunately that issue was left out by The Collegian and probably would never have come to light.
The true problem is that communication between these two organizations has to be worked on so that they truly benefit the students that they actually work for. If the two organizations that are meant to inform and make better changes for the students of this campus cannot seem to get a long, for whatever reason, then I feel unfortunate to be returning next semester.
JD • Apr 16, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Headline idea: AS? More like BS.
this is why it was ridiculous for the finance committee to hold money over the collegian’s heads and tried to make the newspaper roll over and beg.
it’s sickening that the student government has no mandate from the people. but that’s why nobody runs opposed. they like it that way. they want an easy automatic election win and then want to act important when nobody even knows their names.
there have been decent AS officers. i will vouch for one or two.
but i go back to that brilliant finance committee. it withheld the money that was rightful to the collegian. then the collegian pushed a fee hike referendum through that gives the paper A TON of money and it puts out fewer issues with perceived lazier students.
how is this better than the original arrangement? i guess the teachers in charge of the collegian are happy. but is anyone else?
you really blew it finance committee. hope it was worth playing dress up.
JD • Apr 17, 2007 at 1:31 am
Headline idea: AS? More like BS.
this is why it was ridiculous for the finance committee to hold money over the collegian’s heads and tried to make the newspaper roll over and beg.
it’s sickening that the student government has no mandate from the people. but that’s why nobody runs opposed. they like it that way. they want an easy automatic election win and then want to act important when nobody even knows their names.
there have been decent AS officers. i will vouch for one or two.
but i go back to that brilliant finance committee. it withheld the money that was rightful to the collegian. then the collegian pushed a fee hike referendum through that gives the paper A TON of money and it puts out fewer issues with perceived lazier students.
how is this better than the original arrangement? i guess the teachers in charge of the collegian are happy. but is anyone else?
you really blew it finance committee. hope it was worth playing dress up.
Mike Greyson • Apr 16, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Mike Greyson for President!!!
Geoffrey Dahmer for VP of finance!!!
Mike Greyson • Apr 16, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Mike Greyson for President!!!
Geoffrey Dahmer for VP of finance!!!
The Observer • Apr 16, 2007 at 10:06 am
I encourage everyone to organize a write-in campaign for an unsuspecting friend.
The Observer • Apr 16, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I encourage everyone to organize a write-in campaign for an unsuspecting friend.