Editorial, Opinion

ENDORSEMENT: The Daily Free Press endorses Your BU for Student Government

Two slates, Your BU and B-trU, entered the playing field to lead Boston University’s Student Government for the upcoming 2017-18 school year. Both slates promote the concepts of transparency and inclusivity within Student Government, while prioritizing the goal to have more students become involved with the process of making changes on campus.

As similar as some of these platforms may seem on the surface, there is a distinct and decision-making difference between these two slates — experience.

Your BU has a combined eight years of experience, according to their slate members during the debate. They understand the failures and successes of Student Government down to every rule, which makes them the more qualified slate. We trust Your BU, with their in-depth knowledge of administration proceedings on a campus and state level, to form a SG Executive Board that carries out the promises they made during the campaign.

While members of Your BU are informed on the current legislation and actions within SG, they have also done the research on how to carry out their goals. Your BU has taken their campaign to the next level by already reaching out to student organizations, BU administrators and councilors at City Hall to create a bridge between our university and the city. While what a slate does during the campaign does not necessarily reflect on their effectiveness once in office, the steps Your BU has taken are impressive. It shows that they’re passionate and dedicated to seeing their policies to completion.

While Your BU is informed, knows their exact goals and how or if they could reach them, their entire campaign seemed well-rehearsed. Their personalities, frankly, have at times come off as distant, which prompts the question of whether they will be able to inspire SG and the remainder of the student body as leaders of SG should. However, there’s nothing wrong with being prepared and staying to the script. The entire slate is nevertheless eloquent, clear and knowledgeable of what they want. We appreciate the time they’ve spent brainstorming, researching and rehearsing carefully crafted talking points. And in the end, a decision should not be made solely on whether the slate is capable of inspiring the student body. Your BU, with more knowledge and experience, is more skilled and prepared, and we believe they will be more likely to create change on behalf of the student body.

One hesitation of endorsing this slate is that members of Your BU are perhaps too involved with the current SG E-Board. Your BU’s Presidential candidate SaraAnn Kurkul currently serves as the executive vice president, while two other members currently serve in the cabinet: Eva Jungreis as the director of communications and Bernie Lai as the director of finance, and Piergiacomo Cacciamani who currently serves as a senator for the College of Engineering. When endorsing a slate with close ties to the current E-Board, one can’t help but ask the question: Is the current SG E-Board effective? After all, the current E-Board spent a good half of fall semester passing a failed constitutional reform, and members who are involved in SG have commented that the institution focused too much on internal matters and has lost the respect of the student body. Should the student body give members from Your BU, who works within the current SG administration, another chance?

While this inquiry won’t be answered unless Your BU is elected, when we asked Your BU these questions, their answer is that everything has a learning curve, including how to run Student Government. Your BU said their members and advisors have looked through the records of past SG E-Boards, so they know what the limitations and redundancies of SG are. Their experiences within the current administration, which they characterized as effective in the most part, have become their key strength, especially with SG’s recent success at the TEDxBU Conference.

In order for us to fully gauge the competence of Your BU, we must also consider and compare B-trU’s potential as a slate. While Your BU has presented themselves as a cohesive, united body, B-trU seems divided both in policy positions and goals. They’ve backtracked on answers to questions and have admitted to having differing opinions on the issue of divestment. Their lack of unity is troubling. Will they be able to make unanimous decisions should they be elected? Their current situation wouldn’t prompt the answer “yes.” B-trU seems confused about BU’s policies and the capacities of SG in general. Their policy suggestions are enthusiastic, but some are not viable for the one-year term that each SG E-Board holds. While Wi-Fi and additional buses are important to BU students, B-trU has no clear plans or steps to achieve these goals. The slate promises to appeal to the administration, to lobby for our needs as students, but lacks the research and resources expected from those running for election.

In the areas where B-trU fails to assure us of their capabilities, Your BU excels. They have articulated their policies and strategies clearly. Their SG pasts prove to be invaluable resources — these slate members know what works and what doesn’t. They will not have to spend time conquering the learning curve but rather can jump into becoming the bridge between the student body and the university administration, or so we hope.

While we wouldn’t argue that either slate is the ideal, perfect combination of people to lead Student Government, Your BU is superior in experience and preparation. We at The Daily Free Press firmly believe Student Government is an institution that can bring students together to create changes that benefits communities in the university, and we wish Your BU will fulfill their promises once elected: bringing transparency and inclusivity to SG.

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