Political apathy surrounds ASUA, random poll shows

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat "I see things on campus that they've done." Jennie Chackle, management information systems sophomore, re: why ASUA is effective.

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat "I have to care. What they do directly affects me." Chris Garretson, management information systems and marketing junior, re: why he cares about what ASUA does.

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat "(ASUA officials) haven't done what the students need to the full extent of the word, but they're trying." Eddie Arteaga, ecology and evolutionary biology junior, re: ASUA.

"I wouldn't know," said Matt Jones, a business management freshman, regarding ASUA's potency at the University of Arizona. "I don't know what they control."

Students polled on the UA Mall said the acronym ASUA stood for anything from "Associated student something" to the "Arizona State University Association."

After suffering a 10 percent student voter turn-out last year, Associate Students officials were excited to hear that 45 of the 100 students planned to vote in the general elections on Mar. 3 and 4.

But, ASUA officials said overall the survey is indicative of some internal organizational problems.

"We definitely need to do a better job at outreaching to students," said Ryan Rosensteel, ASUA's administrative vice president. "While this wasn't a particularly large poll, I think it is pretty accurate as to our perception on campus."

Rosensteel said apathy toward government is present on a national scale, but in a small community such as the UA, disregard for representatives is an "inexcusable" problem that must be corrected.

"It definitely can be improved upon," he said. "I'd rather have 100 angry students pounding at my door than 100 students who aren't interested. We're always looking for new ways to get out to students, but it just starts with the elected officials."

The intent of the survey was to gauge student opinion on ASUA's purpose, the meaning behind its initials, its effectiveness at student representation and whether its actions are a matter of concern to its constituents.

On the matter of effective governance, ASUA received mixed results - 34 students thought senators represented their interests well, 39 did not and 27 said they did not know enough to judge.

While many students said it appeared the representatives were working hard to serve their interests, others said ASUA does not try hard enough to incorporate the opinions of all students into its agenda.

"It really depends," said political science senior Lilly Carroll of the representation quality. "They do if you take use of them - if you make yourself known, they will take notice. But for the common student who doesn't really bother -Êthey don't take their thoughts into account."

Rosensteel said the matter of student government is a two-way street. While elected officials need to seek out student opinion, their constituents also have the responsibility to convey ideas, he said.

"I've made it one of my goals to hear students that want to be heard," Rosensteel said. "But you (students) do have to take some initiative to have an impact on student government. There's nothing you (ASUA) can do for students that don't voice their opinion other than advocate what you think is best for their needs."

Chris Garretson, a marketing and management information systems junior, said he was not impressed with the ASUA Senate's efforts to hear a multitude of student voices.

"I've never seen them out here asking people what they think," Garretson said.

Music junior Jacob Sessions, who was lounging with Garretson on the UA Mall yesterday, said ASUA is not the only one to blame for student apathy.

"The students don't really care about it," Sessions said, adding he did not pay attention to the activities of his representatives. "It's not all their fault."

There may be a reason for students' lack of involvement in the organization, said psychology sophomore Mary Weigel.

"You never hear what they stand for, what they want or your input making a difference," Weigel said. "My idea of a good representative is someone who asks you what you want."

Joe Guglielmo also said he did not know of any attempts by ASUA to include a large-scale student opinion survey in its policies.

"In the four years I've been here, I haven't been asked or even heard of people being asked their opinion," said Guglielmo, a computer science and math senior. "To represent the student population they should see what they want first."

But it is "kind of hard" to get every students' individual convictions on a particular issue, said ASUA Executive Vice President Cisco Aguilar.

Despite being the catalyst for some criticism against the Associated Students government, the student poll also received some positive feedback about the ASUA Senate.

Both Rosensteel and Aguilar were pleased by the fact that 67 students said they cared about what ASUA does.

"It looks like some people care, and that's a good thing," Aguilar said. "What really surprises me is a majority do care."