After nearly a month of Unite and Students Party campaign staff occupying Turlington, we’ve finally come to the end of the election season. Innumerable fliers were passed out, dozens of platform points were discussed and thousands of votes were cast — 10,644 to be exact, the highest total ever for a nonrunoff Student Government election.
While some may attribute the increase in voter turnout to dogs in T-shirts or hilarious cat videos, we believe something else was at play. Until this year, many students saw SG as an elitist organization controlled by a highly mobilized minority where only a select few had the connections to get involved.
Last week, we uprooted that myth and proved to the average student that SG really is accessible, but only if you make your voice heard. Whether freshman or grad student, Greek or non-Greek, part of an organization or unaffiliated, we all have a responsibility to vote.
This same responsibility follows us after college into our homes and communities as we elect everyone from city commissioners to the president of the United States. Why, then, would we shirk the privilege of voting while here at UF? Although 10,644 students participating is a step in the right direction, there are nearly 40,000 students who chose to abstain from voting this year. If nothing else, this proves that we still have a lot of work to do.
So for one last time, we urge you to come out and vote in the next Student Government election. It’s your responsibility, your privilege and your voice. Choose to be heard.
Alex Cornillie and Jesse Schmitt
Students Party presidential and vice-presidential candidates
