Another year, another SGA election.

UT’s politically motivated are preparing for the annual battle of wills that determines control of the student senate. Last Thursday, all interested parties amassed in the UC to survey the field. Around 75 students came together to discuss campaign particulars.

The election meeting was presented as an open invitation for interested students to learn more about the election process, but its existence is largely perfunctory. This year’s SGA candidates and campaign strategies were assembled far in advance of Thursday. As is often the case, SGA members possessing supporting roles in this year’s administration will now be running for higher office.

Student government works with the university to “improve the quality of student life, including residence halls, health care, dining, recreation and transportation” of UT students. To earn the privilege of performing this service, campaigns will funnel up to $7,000 each into winning over their peers.  

The most widely recognized part of this annual fete are the various freebies students will collect on Pedestrian. T-shirts, writing implements, and shiny trinkets of all kinds will be distributed in an attempt to woo voters. Unfortunately, this is the most interaction the majority of the student body has with SGA. Few students know who their representatives are, and an equally select few will take the time to vote in the election.

During campaign season, many UT students ask themselves what role SGA actually plays in day to day affairs on campus. A lack of information exists about the processes of the organization and the sources of its legitimacy. Students are asking questions about their representative body, and this news organization believes our audience deserves thorough answers.

In last year’s election, The Daily Beacon reported that the most highly supported candidate for SGA received only 9.3 percent of the entire student body’s vote. That means that close to 90 percent of students have not in any way validated the authority that SGA holds. Certainly elected officers cannot be held accountable for apathy amongst their peers, but the source of student disinterest needs to be isolated.

A dearth in student awareness has been cited as a major flaw in the current system. There are certainly opportunities to become involved in SGA, but most students remain unengaged. SGA holds open, bi-monthly meetings and hosts both Facebook and Twitter accounts. These accounts are well-maintained with organization events and updates. Unfortunately, the SGA website has been under construction since last year, and the finished portion primarily consists of pictures of the executive board members. The news and calendar portions of the website are still not functional.

This year, The Daily Beacon is resigned to make sure every fact surrounding the operation of this election are readily available to our readers. We will have reporters at every major event, and information available on each of the candidates.

In an effort to shed some perspective on this particular election, our newspaper will be undertaking a comprehensive review of SGA’s activities this year. Last week, I requested access to a complete list of legislation considered by SGA, in addition to its budget figures and their allotment. I have every faith that SGA will get those materials to me soon, and when they do, our readers can expect a clear account of their content.

Our staff is not out to convince you to participate in student government elections; that’s entirely your prerogative. We are here, however, to make sure you have every shred of relevant information that we can possibly find in making your decision.

The Daily Beacon staff also wants to air your opinions on the process. If you think that a critical mass of students should have to vote to validate election results, let us know. If you think you have a better idea for representing student voice on campus, send it in. If you are choosing not to vote in the election, tell us why. Without some level of student approval, the organization cannot be legitimized.

I know there are a great deal of UT students who would like to see an SGA receive more than nine percent of student support. At that level of participation, it is only natural to question the relevancy of this organization. Educate yourself on SGA’s function, and express your opinion. Stop being represented via implied consent.

— Blair Kuykendall is a junior in the College Scholars Program. She can be reached at bkuykend@utk.edu.