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SGA: Not a Popular Ticket
By Katie Fish '09
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Student Government elections this spring had an even lower candidate turnout than usual.

“I was disappointed and somewhat surprised at the number of positions that went unopposed this year. Generally a few positions go unopposed, or have to be voted on in emergency elections, but this year, most positions were uncontested,” said newly elected SGA President Kristin Barnes ’08.

This year, sixteen candidates ran uncontested, and nine SGA and class officer positions have been left to emergency elections because no one ran for the positions. Several reasons could be cited as to why so few students showed interest and ran for positions with SGA.

This lack of participation in Student Government raised questions about the amount of political awareness on campus and whether students are apathetic, or are truly happy with the way things are currently done.

“I have the impression that the student body is more balanced politically than it was when I first arrived. In recent years, the Young Democrats have actually been a presence on campus. The Young Republicans have always been here,” said German Professor Ron Horwege, a member of the Sweet Briar faculty since 1971.

Students represent a more diverse political group than in earlier years, but belonging to a political party has no effect on whether a student becomes active in the college’s government.

Students today are less interested in running than in years past “not because they are apathetic, but because there are so many more things to be involved in now – socially and politically – both at Sweet Briar and in the larger community,” believes Turning Point student Barbara J. Payne ’08 who first attended Sweet Briar in the 1960’s.

For the students who were involved in SGA and who ran and won, they felt optimistic about changes they would like to make during their terms.

Barnes cited housing and budgeting as two problems that she plans to focus on, while President of the class of 2010, Laura McKenna, would like to concentrate on bringing her class together.

“I chose to run for President because I wanted to be more involved with my class, and I want to see our class bond,” McKenna said.

Barnes speculated that this year’s numbers were lower than usual because election packets were sent through e-mail, instead of being printed for students like in the past.

“I didn’t vote because I deleted the e-mail. We get so much junk mail,” stated one student who wishes remain anonymous.

This year only 111 students of the total 739 on campus voted in the SGA elections, while the numbers for the individual class elections had numbers ranging from 11 to 54 students who voted for the candidates for their respective class year.

Everyone had her own reason for getting involved or staying away from Student Government, which Barnes clarifies: “If someone does not want to be involved, no amount of pleading will get them involved.”