The success of the Student Recreation Center referendum should come as no surprise; indeed, it seems to have been guaranteed safe passage from the beginning.

Even beyond the fact that the necessity of a Rec Center expansion is dubious at best, the manner in which this week's special election was conducted seemed to contravene a number of fundamental notions of fairness.

To begin with, the position of elections commissioner was left more or less vacant until Nov. 9, despite the fact that the commissioner is charged with the crucial task of ensuring a fair election.

Although former Associated Students of the University of Arizona Chief of Staff Tyler Carrell filled the position last week, he was afforded precious little time to ensure an impartial election. Not surprisingly, the consequences of this last-minute changing of the guard were manifested in a number of egregious election blunders.

Unbiased literature explaining the proposed measures, a mainstay of fair elections, was conspicuously absent.

Instead, students were treated to brightly colored pamphlets and signs from the Rec Center with the ever-so-clever slogan "Exercise your vote!" plastered across the top. Rec Center personnel were instructed to remove the signs, but not before a multitude of students had seen the materials in the lobby.

Even more galling was the fact that one of the two polling sites was located in the very building that stood to benefit the most from a "yes" vote. After all, it's no stretch of the imagination to think that the students who are already using the Rec Center would be the most receptive to its expansion. This could easily explain the overwhelming passage of the measure, as the pro vote garnered 72 percent in the election.

While it's true that the Arizona Daily Wildcat has already expressed strong opposition to the Rec Center fee, the problem here has more to do with the biases so prevalent in the election process than any fault of the proposal itself.

If the student body is to vote on a multimillion-dollar expansion that would be felt for the next 30 years, it should be within a context that is free of the kind of partiality that has come to characterize this election.

The Arizona Board of Regents, who must give final approval of the vote, would be serving the best interests of all students, current and future, if it scrutinized this week's election. Finding glaring evidence of election malfeasance, the board would be smart to send this one back to the students for another vote.

Future students, who will have the $25 fee foisted upon them, deserve a fair and honest election. Elections and Rec Center officials couldn't guarantee one, so it's up to regents to make sure it happens.

Opinions Board

Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Lori Foley, Ryan Johnson, Damion LeeNatali, Aaron Mackey, Mike Morefield, Katie Paulson and Tim Runestad.