By Peter Licata
Voter apathy. It’s a term frequently tossed around in politics. When elections roll around and people don’t vote, that’s voter apathy. Not really a fair term, as apathy translates literally to “lack of interest in anything.” A lack of votes can stem from reasons far beyond voter interest, reasons found in both the voters and the candidates.
This year, voting in the TWU Student Association elections was down nearly 50 per cent from last year. In 2007, over 800 votes were counted, whereas this year, only around 400 votes were cast. This dip is not fully explained by lower enrollment, but has been attributed to both voter and candidate apathy.
TWUSA President Brian Weir noted several reasons for this year’s low voter turnout. Several candidates began their campaigns late, and only one position, VP of Academics, was contested.
“Candidates who run against no one can feel as if there is no need for a campaign,” said Weir. A lack of campaigning would easily lead to a lack of student awareness and thus a lack of votes.
Weir admitted he spent little time campaigning compared to last year when his position was contested. Also, he noted new candidates who have not worked with TWUSA before can be unfamiliar with how to best communicate with students, resulting in less effective campaigns and fewer votes.
Ben Pence, a computing science major, said he rarely votes in student elections. This year, however, he voted for one candidate only because that particular candidate was his friend. “If I don’t know the candidates or their politics, especially when there is no contest between two candidates, I feel there is no reason to vote.”
On the other hand, linguistics major Neil Zielsdorf voted just for the general elections. Zielsdorf described feeling unconnected to TWUSA, and generally unaware of what they do for the student body. He said he desires stronger representation for his major within the council, but once more council is lacking a Professional Studies and Performing Arts rep.
Next year’s newly elected senior rep, Joel Reinhardt, is currently a Robson rep. He ran uncontested and campaigned via word-of-mouth alone.
Reinhardt believes that voter apathy stems partially from student ignorance of what TWUSA does for the student body. “They do a lot behind the scenes, such as talking with the administration about issues facing the student body,” he said.
However, Reinhardt does think that TWUSA could improve communication with student leaders in community life. As a Robson rep, he never recalls getting any communication from TWUSA.
Reinhardt noted that if student leaders were encouraged to pass along info from TWUSA to the student body, there would be a better understanding of TWUSA’s role on campus.
Weir pointed out that TWU is not the only school with voter apathy. A contact in UBC told him only 10 per cent of the student body voted in their student government elections this year.
Next years reps, so far…
The questions we asked:
Name
1. Position
2. Hometown
3. Current Year
4. Major
5. Years on TWUSA
6. In less than five words, what is the biggest issue facing students?
7. What do you bring to council next year?
Brian Weir
1. President
2. Mississauga, ON
3. 3rd Year
4. Business
5. 1
6. Tuition and unified direction as a student body
7. “I’m hoping that continuity in my council will help to better the internal and external relations of my council on behalf of the students.”
Jason Brandl
1. Executive VP
2. Langley, but my parents live in Denver.
3. 2nd Year
4. Who knows at this point
5. 1 (but a lifetime’s worth of experience)
6. Finances, Being Heard, and Apathy (I have more but “and” took up my fifth word)
7. I bring a strong passion to speak on behalf of students.
Kelsey Wallace
1. VP of Finance
2. Unionville, ON
3. 4th Year (2nd at TWU)
4. Business
5. 1
6. Tuition, and Responsibilities of Membership (always a topic of heated discussion).
7. I am bringing my commitment to work hard and ensuring funds are well taken care of.
Amanda De Vries
1. VP of Student Relations
2. Kelowna, BC
3. 2nd Year
4. International Business
5. 1
6. Increased tuition, lack of services
7. I bring a desire to interact with the student body in order to align myself with their concerns and interests, the motivation to work to see tangible, positive change for students.
Monica Grose
1. VP of Academics
2. Maple Ridge, BC
3. 2nd Year
4. International Studies
5. 1
6. Responsibilities of Membership and tuition
7. An innovative and creative perspective
Josiah Martinoski
1. Sophomore Rep
2. Sherwood Park, AB
3. 1st Year
4. Political Studies
5. 0
6. Ourselves
7. Energy and Ideas
David van Hemmen
1. Junior Rep
2. Port McNeill, BC
3. 2nd Year
4. Business, with Political Studies Minor
5. TWUSA virgin
6. Time restraints.
7. I am hoping to bring solid transactional leadership that accurately and respectfully represents my fellow classmates.
Joel H. Reinhardt
1. Senior Rep
2. Calgary, AB
3. 3rd
4. Philosophy
5. 0
6. Rising tuition, desperate lack of money
7. Enthusiasm, work ethic, and a desire to see our campus prepared for what the future holds.
Joshua Duvauchelle
1. Humanities Rep
2. Kauai, HI
3. 3rd Year
4. International Studies and Communications
5. 0
6. Lots of girls, few boys.
7. Pure Hawaiian genius
Craig Ketchum
1. Education Rep
2. Nairobi, Kenya
3. 3rd Year
4. Education / (Art of Self-Overcoming)
5. 0
6. Reconciling grace and apathy
7. Exotic flavour, a sunny disposition, and ecological conscientiousness