Student government e-lection

Voting for Student Government Association positions ended last Friday with what was one of Austin Community College's largest turnouts in recent history.

In previous years, less than one percent of the student body contributed to the election process. But those numbers appear to be trending upward, according to SGA advisor Marisa Walden.

"We are trying to up it to maybe three percent," said Christine Sattler, former senator who ran for SGA's secretary chair. "If more people vote it will make for a better SGA."

Some students were unaware that ACC had student representation. "I knew we had a representative for concealed firearms on campus, but I didn't know we had a student government," said Music Education major Ben Corwin.

This year, SGA hoped to get the word out by holding a "meet the candidates" volleyball event. With a turnout of about 40 people, students and teachers ate burgers and sausages while on break from studies in the front of Rio Grande Campus.

"If we can come together … and let people know there is a college life, it will turn for the better," said Brad Burnett, an uncontested SGA presidential candidate. "It's already a great place."

Others felt differently. "Who even cares about the student election? It's a community college," said Jenny Fritzinger, part-time ACC student.

"I care about SGA as much as I care about employee of the month," said Dakotah Barnes, Physics major. "I think it is just for their resume."

In addition to outdoor recreation, posters for those running could be found stapled to walls and available for pick-up at campus polling tables.

Offering one explanation for weak turnout in the past, Incumbent Treasurer Grace Tan said that "the campuses have been really empty as it's coming to the end of the semester."

Last year, ballots were taken on scantrons and put into a ballot box. Jeff Hazlitt, Student Life assistant, thought that the use of a laptop for voting was less popular with the students on campus, but the ability to vote online created a more substantial increase in voter participation.

"Some of them did not know their ACC ID [number]," said Tan, pointing out a barricade for student participation.

Six of the seven chairs were uncontested in this year's election, but write-in candidates could still compete when sign-up deadlines were missed. According to election officials, there were a number of write-in candidates this year.

"They should sell cigarettes on campus. That would be my platform," offered William Blase, a Philosophy major.

"Does the student government have the power to do anything?" asked Justin Beger, a Political Science major at ACC.

SGA has, in fact, been able to accomplish several objectives this school year, including the placement of recycling bins on all the campuses. They have also pushed for the creation of a childcare system for student parents.

"We are supposed to advocate for the students. We do a pretty good job of that but there is always room for improvement," admitted Michael Reid, a candidate for vice president. He hopes SGA will hold debates next year as a way to improve turnout.

The current process for finding ways to improve the school involves surveys to be completed by students and returned to SGA. From there, SGA investigates issues and comes up with a plan when appropriate.

"[SGA] is the liaison between students and the school," said Sattler.

For next year, SGA is working out how to reduce the costs of textbooks - which happened to be a pivotal issue for the two vice president candidates.

There are rewards to holding office. A seat on the excecutive council requires a 2.5 GPA and five hours in the SGA office a week. If they meet those and other requirements, at the end of the semester they receive a $500 check.

"The skills of student government can carry over to a four-year university," said Tan. "It is not just about going to class. We are about community," said Burnett.