We, the editorial board of The Reflector, believe there are changes to be made to the campaign process of Student Association elections, and those changes are absolutely necessary for the progress and integrity of our democratic process.
The SA serves students of this great university. Its job is to hear our voices and serve as a representative for each of us. The members of SA have a direct say in many matters that greatly impact the student body.
Therefore, as the student body, our job and obligation is to vote for members of the executive council who we believe will serve us in the best possible way. In the weeks prior to elections, The Reflector publishes the platforms of each candidate for office and provides the student body with information regarding the debate.
A responsible student should carefully read the platforms of each candidate, listen to the remarks in the debate and proceed to vote for the candidate he or she believes will represent the student body well. 
Students who do not cast a vote or who vote ignorantly abuse the process of elections.
A responsible student does not vote for a candidate because he or she received a free T-shirt or a brownie on the Drill Field. The campaign process should be focused to inform students, not bribe them.
Various students, including ourselves, believe SA elections shouldn’t be a popularity contest. We hear that statement said every year. However, the campaign process will continue to be a popularity contest if volunteers for candidates continue to treat the process like a popularity contest – focusing only on placing a candidate’s name in the minds of voters along with a free Coke or donut in their hands.
The SA should host multiple debates and events to hear the candidate’s platforms straight from his or her mouth. Aside from allowing students to personally send questions to the debates, we think students should be allowed to directly ask candidates questions about their platforms and policies during the debates.
A responsible student does not blindingly support and vote for a candidate simply because of the expectation of his or her campus organization. We do not think there is anything wrong with being an involved member of a campus organization, including Greek life.
We recognize Greek organizations value leadership among its members. We also do not think there is anything wrong with supporting a fellow member of an organization, as long as you personally agree with his or her platform.
We do, however, believe pressuring members of an organization to vote for a candidate violates the First Amendment rights of its members.
Each student has the right to decide whom he or she will support and whom he or she will choose to vote. Students should never compromise that freedom by pressuring members of an organization to campaign for a candidate he or she may choose not to support.
Members of an organization who choose to support candidates from a different organization should feel no shame or fear in doing so; rather, the organization should respect its members’ decision and right to vote for whomever they please.
If the SA desires accountability and transparency among the members of executive council, it must be prepared to be called out and criticized by members of the student body.
And if the SA listens, they will be able to change the process of elections into something that betters the entire university.
 
 
The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Mary Chase Breedlove, news editor Emma Crawford, campus news editor John Galatas, sports editor Kristen Sprink, entertainment editor Zack Orsborn, photo editor Kaitlin Mullins, copy editors Rachel Burke and Candace Barnette multimedia editor Eric Evans, managing editor Kaitlyn Byrne.
Editor-in-chief Hannah Rogers did not participate in the writing, editing, reading or the discussion surrounding this editorial.