At the SA candidate debate on Wednesday night, I threw the last question at the two presidential candidates Cole Wood and Roxanne Raven asking, “In light of recent events, will you work to bring back integrity, credibility and respect back to the office of the Student Association president?”
As a journalist covering the SA elections closely, I believe somewhere in the process we have lost what the Student Association stands for– service. There’s a lot being said and done by the media currently, this is the first time a Mississippi State University SA President has gotten so close to being impeached. Whoever wins at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night will have a major role to play in re-installing respect and integrity back to the office.
As part of my election coverage, I got a chance to meet and interview both candidates. The one thing, among several, that unites them is their drive and passion to perform for Mississippi State.
While Roxanne has great plans, like adjusting the student ticketing system at football games, Cole wants free printing stations in all dorms sponsored by the Student Association. The battle of two platforms derailed somewhere in the last few days and as a responsible electorate we need to force it back to the discussion table. Please check out Roxanne’s platform at roxthevote.com and Cole’s at colewoodisgood2016.com.
Let’s turn the focus of the elections back to the issues that you and I face every day. The efficiency or inefficiency of some of the shuttle routes, parking problems, msu1x connectivity issues, ensuring MyCourses efficiency and the inconvenient hours of operations for dining facilities. This is what the election should have been about, not who is endorsing whom and what the current SA President is saying about a candidate. Which political advertisement is more glamorous? This does not solve anybody’s problems. It only gives media fodder and leaders their political mileage.
Through this medium, I request that both Cole and Roxanne, in these last few days of campaigning, please talk more about problems students face dayin and dayout. Please connect with your electorate and avoid any sort of political posturing.
And to voters, let’s make sure we vote on Feb. 2 and exercise our greatest right as citizens of a democratic country. In the end, the ballot is the most powerful weapon we as students have.
Maybe next time there is an election, we hope the elected executive council preserves, respects and follows the constitution they have vowed to defend since day one. As far as the events that led to the impeachment process of Jojo Dodd, we can discuss, debate and make changes after 10 p.m. on Tuesday night. Have an informed election season. Hail State.
