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ASUA can't suceed without student interest

Approximately thirty-five thousand students attend the University of Arizona.

In last week's Associated Students of the University Arizona elections, a mere two thousand voted. Clearly, apathy is plaguing the UA campus. The student body needs to realize that their involvement is the only way to make ASUA a valuable component of the UA campus.

ASUA is the University of Arizona's student government. The decisions made by the students elected to this body can impact the entire campus. More importantly, the student body ought to be demanding more from its student government.

Last week, student body president Ben Graff won the election after racking in a pathetic 1,338 votes, only three percent of the entire student population. The turnout is improving, for the sad two thousand that voted this year is a better showing than last year's 1,700. Still, UA students ought to be more involved in the election process of its student leaders.

When ASUA promises to restructure the senate, the student body ought to demand that it happen. When ASUA funds corn dog clubs over Camp Wildcat, the student body ought to get angry and demand that its elected officials reexamine its appropriations process.

ASUA candidates ought to worry that they will lose elections if they do not stick to their campaign promises and actually accomplish their goals because their student body is paying close attention to how well they do their job. Student leaders have little incentive to actually commit to their promises if students do not hold them accountable.

Two thousand votes do not represent the student body, but yet, they are choosing who leads this campus.

True, ASUA often seems to be a pointless and inactive student government. Few students on campus even know the organization exists, and many of their programs seem to have little impact on the campus.

But the only way to force the organization to do something productive is to get involved. Candidates ought to count on hordes of students voting for them. The campus ought to be excited about the political process, and students should believe that an ASUA election means they have another opportunity to influence the campus.

Perhaps the most important aspect of ASUA is that it can give money to campus clubs and organizations. Most UA students belong to some kind of organization that can be assisted by SUA funding, yet few will turn out to vote for people who can influence how much money they can receive. If clubs want money, they ought to vote for the leaders who can give it to them.

ASUA does not have to be an aloof, inactive student government. It can be a productive organization that is responsive to the needs of the student body.

But ASUA will only be productive when UA students get involved and demand that it serve them.

Campus politics is a joke - but only when the students allow it to be.