Over the course of the past few weeks, this campus has been crawling with energy.
Candidates and their supporters have taken to the Drill Field with a passion that is unmatched by any I have seen in my four years here at MSU.
It brings me great joy to see the excitement that this election fervor has brought to our campus because enthusiasm is the precursor of progress.
One of the common themes of this year’s election, not unlike most others in the past, is the concept of “bringing the SA to the students.”
Every time I see this platform issue, I am confident that these candidates understand what the Student Association is about-serving the people of this university.
I also believe wholeheartedly in making the SA accessible to students. In fact, it was also one of my campaign issues which I have been working all year to address.
There are no secrets in this office, no closed doors, no hidden agendas-just people who have dedicated their year to serving the student body.
That is why it pains me to hear that this administration’s involvement in this year’s election has been called into question by some over the past few days.
Friday’s edition of The Reflector was packed with information and opinions about each candidate.
In their research, The Reflector staff sought out factual information regarding candidates’ previous involvement in the SA and policies that we have followed throughout the year.
We freely handed over all records that The Reflector requested that pertained to all of the candidates involved in the election and answered all questions that they had about the inner workings of the Student Association throughout the year.
This is what I believe is one of the primary responsibilities of the Student Association-ensuring that we are completely transparent and completely accountable to the student body.
Any attempt not to hand these records over and disclose all factual information about the past year would have been a complete disservice to the student body and in utter defiance of our open-door policy.
The leadership in this administration will not offer our opinions about any candidate, and you surely will not hear us endorse anyone. That is not our job.
Our job is to make sure that nothing about this administration is hidden from the students we serve.
Our Election’s Commission’s job is to handle the elections with the utmost of professionalism and impartiality, and they have done an undeniably impeccable job.
Elections are slam full of emotion, and many times, emotions force us to think things we wouldn’t normally think and believe things we wouldn’t normally believe. I know. I’ve been there.
But make no mistake about it.
Just as this Student Association administration has dedicated a year of sacrificial service to the students, serving you with integrity and zeal, we will continue this service throughout this elections process.
I look forward to another exciting and active election day, and I hope every single student will take this opportunity to forge the future for this university.
Josh Blades is a senior political science major and the current SA president.