HAGEN: BU’s elect-ile dysfunction

This Monday is a big day for the Boston University community because three important events are taking place simultaneously. First is Patriots Day, better known to BU students as Marathon Monday. The Boston Marathon is run annually to commemorate George Washington chasing drunken Hessian soldiers 26.2 miles out of the city in order to let freedom ring. Or something like that. The AP U.S. History test was a long time ago. The most important thing is that the running and the being drunk part remains.

Second is the official start of the week-long voting for Student Union elections, which coincides with the third event: the official start of ignoring the Student Union elections. To help cut down on the university-wide apathy I present my unbiased and, naturally, smug guide to your three candidates.

The first slate, Renew BU, has an apparent advantage since they have been working on their campaign platform for the last four months, which is approximately three months and 30 days longer than anyone else. Given this lengthy planning time, their platform should satisfy the most relevant needs of the student body, right? Well, due to their choice of issues to address, I have nicknamed this slate the “Bro Tableau”. Two “hot button” issues they wish to tackle are the creation of a BU football club in hopes of a future revival of a varsity squad, as well as making punishments for students caught smoking marijuana equivalent to those for underage drinking.

If I cared that much about a football team I would have attended Penn State, B.C. or any school I was accepted to with a reputable football program. BU’s program was cut almost 13 years ago due to lack of interest and because it was an economic drain. Given the ever-swelling tuition rates&-an area candidates should be addressing &-&- BU can use all the cash it can get. As for the pot? It’s a “sexy” issue that will get people talking, but I have yet to hear a single student complain about the punishment for smoking dope. Probably because if you are stupid enough to get caught, you deserve what you get.

Now, before Renew BU supporters decide to snuff their joints and then snuff me, there are issues which the slate is addressing that I agree are important. Medical Amnesty is a policy BU would be stupid not to adopt. The administration can become so obsessed with rigidly abiding to drug code policy, that they forget what is most important: the safety of students.
Another issue I agree with is lowering print quota costs. Many students remain angry about the cuts and are shocked that the incredibly high tuition&- hint, hint &- does not cover the expenses for adequate printing. Although I may not support much of their platform, I am impressed with Renew BU’s passionate effort in reaching out to students.

The second slate is BUnited and according to their Facebook page, their platform promises to increase “transparency” and “responsiveness.” While I agree transparency is the most important issue to address, it is an ironic platform choice since BUnited has the least transparent plan of action that I’ve ever seen. It only provides vague promises that they will “work to increase transparency and accountability.” Thank you BUnited, but my $53,000-a-year and rising&-cough, cough&-tuition has taught me what transparency is. I want to know how you plan to achieve it.

As for their promise of “responsiveness,” I assumed it went without saying that an organization voted into power by the students would also work for the students. It’s kind of in the job description. BUnited has the right idea about cutting down on bureaucracy and making the BU administration more accessible, but without any concrete plan to make this happen, it is tough to support them.

The last slate is The Greek Slate for Student Union 2010. Thus far, the only discernible platform upon which they built their slate is to bring BU a “chill future.” Seriously. Enough said.

What BU needs is a reformed Student Union. It is awfully hard for President Robert Brown to hear our individual voices all the way from the eighth floor of One Silber Way and to get his attention, we need a strong Union with the backing of a supportive student body. This means the Student Union must try harder to communicate with the campus. For example, they should redesign the website which currently gives zero information about what they are actually doing. Since many of my fellow classmates are unaware the Union exists it is essential to get the word out.

The choice for this election is either a potentially stronger team with weaker issues or a weaker team with potentially stronger issues. No matter which way you lean, positive change will only come to the Union if the student body demonstrates any sort of political interest. So BU students, this Monday you can guzzle beer down your palate, but don’t forget to cast that ballot.