Editorial : SA needs president, not politician
Elections for the next Student Association president and comptroller will begin next week. The elections will decide in which direction the university’s student government will go for the coming year and what issues facing students will take priority.
The Daily Orange Editorial Board offers its suggestions as to the kind of president SA needs.
Elections for SA president give the organization a semblance of democracy. But the reality is SA president and the elected officials voted for on Tuesday are vastly different. Because of those differences SA needs a particular kind of leader for the organization to be the most effective it can be.
One problem which faces most student organizations is fast membership turnover. The students who shaped SA policy just a year ago are history faster than they can see their policies come to fruition. Assembly members graduate and most SA presidents serve only one term. The presidency lasts a calendar year rather than an academic year, thus a junior — usually the class standing of presidents — cannot run for a second term, meaning an SA president is not working for re-election.
To minimize these problems, SA needs a president who is genuinely interested in the inner-workings of the university, who joined SA motivated by particular issues he or she felt passionate about. A leader with this frame of mind is more likely to get things done without students needing to hold them accountable.
The best SA president would have no interest in political leadership beyond SA, so that service to the community trumps resume building. The best SA leader would be down to earth and incredibly well versed in SA history. This leader would understand the limits of his or her office and put that valuable time into the most effective and common sense initiatives.
Finally, the best SA leader would have a limited ego. Being president is not a popularity contest with the administration, faculty or student body. It is simply about addressing student needs to the best of the assembly’s ability. A down-to-earth, well-informed, thoughtful and humble president is what SA needs.
The Daily Orange Editorial Board strongly encourages students to learn about the two candidates for SA president and cast their vote next week on MySlice.
