Election or selection?
Reginald James
Issue date: 5/8/08 Last update: 5/8/08 at 2:17 PM PST
Section: OpEd
Reginald James didn't vote in the Associated Students of Laney College (ASLC) or Student Trustee elections May 6-7.
I joined the 11,800 or more Laney students who didn't participate, but I think my case was unique.
Since I turned 18-years-old in 2000, I have voted in every election I was eligible. Growing up hearing how my ancestors had to fight for the right to vote, I have always felt honored by, and obligated to, vote.
See most students don't vote because they don't know about the elections, that Laney has a student government, or anything about the candidates.
Then there are those who just don't care.
But the reason why I didn't vote here at Laney is because no one asked me to. Not that I'm special or something, but you would think that someone would ask me to vote for them right? Wrong.
Well, one student asked me to vote for him Tuesday afternoon, but I'd already made up my mind.
There were no presentations in my classes, no forums; just random posters plastered around campus.
I did end up voting at BCC afer receiving a campaign message via text, but I returned a blank Student Trustee ballot. Voting is essential to democracy; however, when people are put into office by default, you don't have a choice.
When I was in seventh grade, my Uncletaught me something I will never forget. Holding up two pens in his hand, blue and black, he then asked me, "What's your favorite color?" I pointed to the black one.
He replied, "I thought your favorite color was red."
I told him, "I thought I could only choose between those two."
Without any other options, I was forced to compromise.
So when we have an election that is more of a "selection," it is hard to bring myself to the futile exercise of participating, especially when with all the "voting irregularities" that occured.
It's not that any of the choices were like "picking the lesser of two evils," but it would've been nice to have options. It seems like there is new blood brewing, but I just wasn't convince.
When candidates run unopposed, we might as well have their name and "Yes or no?" on the ballot.
Maybe I just felt left out of the process, but if history repeats itself, as if often does, I wasn't alone.
Did anyone talk to you?
I joined the 11,800 or more Laney students who didn't participate, but I think my case was unique.
Since I turned 18-years-old in 2000, I have voted in every election I was eligible. Growing up hearing how my ancestors had to fight for the right to vote, I have always felt honored by, and obligated to, vote.
See most students don't vote because they don't know about the elections, that Laney has a student government, or anything about the candidates.
Then there are those who just don't care.
But the reason why I didn't vote here at Laney is because no one asked me to. Not that I'm special or something, but you would think that someone would ask me to vote for them right? Wrong.
Well, one student asked me to vote for him Tuesday afternoon, but I'd already made up my mind.
There were no presentations in my classes, no forums; just random posters plastered around campus.
I did end up voting at BCC afer receiving a campaign message via text, but I returned a blank Student Trustee ballot. Voting is essential to democracy; however, when people are put into office by default, you don't have a choice.
When I was in seventh grade, my Uncletaught me something I will never forget. Holding up two pens in his hand, blue and black, he then asked me, "What's your favorite color?" I pointed to the black one.
He replied, "I thought your favorite color was red."
I told him, "I thought I could only choose between those two."
Without any other options, I was forced to compromise.
So when we have an election that is more of a "selection," it is hard to bring myself to the futile exercise of participating, especially when with all the "voting irregularities" that occured.
It's not that any of the choices were like "picking the lesser of two evils," but it would've been nice to have options. It seems like there is new blood brewing, but I just wasn't convince.
When candidates run unopposed, we might as well have their name and "Yes or no?" on the ballot.
Maybe I just felt left out of the process, but if history repeats itself, as if often does, I wasn't alone.
Did anyone talk to you?
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Teresa Weyand
posted 5/18/08 @ 11:44 PM PST
I feel elections are COA were not timely announced and NO campaigning took place. We are simply not reaching the student body.
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