Students had to choose more than just the Homecoming Court in Tuesday’s election.
The election ballots included a survey that was developed by the Student Association Research and Implementation committee.
Andy Weaver, director of the committee, said by including the survey on the homecoming ballots, the committee is able to directly receive student input on SA proposals.
“We like to have a general idea of what the student body wants,” Weaver said. “We have found that the best way to receive a high number of responses is through using the ballots.” . Last year, a small survey containing a few questions was added to the homecoming ballot. This year the questions on the survey were increased to nine.
Weaver found that increasing the number of questions on the survey did not decrease the number of respondents. Out of the 2,800 students who voted in the homecoming elections, over 2,200 answered the survey.
The most popular of the nine questions asked, concerned students’ opinion of a student operated campus radio station.Of the 2,286 students that answered, 2,197 were in favor of the radio station.
A question that asked students to list some of the problem priorities on the MSU campus found that 52 percent were in favor of more parking on campus. Another area surveyed was the campus recycling program.
This program would involve placing aluminum cans and paper in recycling collection containers around campus. 90, percent of the students were in favor of supporting this program.
Weaver said because of this survey, more research can be done concerning these areas which will lead to faster completion of these projects.
One immediate goal is the campus recycling program. Weaver said this committee is currently investigating ways to work with the university and Physical Plant in the placing of special trash cans that would only be used for the disposal of aluminum cans. The money that would be made from the recycling of the cans is planned to be used for the SA United Way fund.
“We hope to start with this project as soon as the means of collecting the cans are completed”. Weaver said. “If plans go well, we may begin as soon as October,” he added.
While the students that are in favor of a student operated campus radio station will have to wait longer than October Weaver did say that the radio station may be in the foreseeable future.
“This survey shows that students want the radio station,” Weaver said. “This is an attainable goal if enough people will work hard on raising money. It is going to take a lot of people donating time, money and talent.”