A plea to incoming ASUA officers

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Scott Andrew Schulz

These questions, of such paramount importance to ASUA today, bring to mind the days when I was ready to throw in the towel and my mom would comfort me saying, "Nothing is permanent except death and bad grades."

Mom's words of wisdom ring especially true as the ASUA elections vie with student apathy for center stage on campus. It appears that for every student deciding to cast a vote for one of various candidates, there are 20 or more who would rather show their disgust at the ASUA by remaining silent.

If you have been reading the Wildcat as of late you've likely come across numerous letters and columns tearing apart the ASUA. You would think things for the ASUA could not get any worse, that it is time to disband this organization of ineffective representatives and start over again. But, as tempting as it is to expunge those offices of inefficiency above the bookstore, have you ever wondered how we might somehow rescue the dying dream that is the ASUA?

Its demise is not irreversible. The question is, how can we guarantee the elections this week are not meaningless? How can we know we are not saying good-bye to the old and hello to the same?

Mom used to say you must instigate change, it will not come on its own. If the ASUA is to receive a much needed face-lift, its foundation must be solid, built by students who actually give a damn about the student population. Someone new will assume the ASUA presidency, as well as the many important offices that support this office. To you I send this message.

Walking to class, I see sign after sign draped from the windows of houses on Greek row, calling for the election of this person and that. But, I have not seen a single political sign posted in a dorm window on campus. Why is this? You might argue that most votes come from Greek row and so the majority of advertising must be done there.

However, could it be that the rest of the campus does not care about the elections because a candidate has yet to emerge that actually represents the student population as a whole? How easy it would be for someone to get elected if only they made the effort to connect the inner structure of this campus. The ASUA's last ditch efforts at survival depend on this.

The UA population is much larger than the Greek minority. Yes, fraternities and sororities do a great deal of community service and to this we are all grateful, but the ASUA cannot survive with their support alone.

So to the officials, once you are elected, do not hide in your office, emerging only once a year to check your shadow. Instead, make it your goal to actually shake hands with students, learn our names, and hear our concerns first-hand. Do not sit idly by as the UA administration makes our individual bank accounts UA property by hiking our tuition and forcing us to pay unnecessary fees.

We were able to successfully stand firm with regard to the union fee and there are many more taxes that demand our attention, such as the money required for a degree check. Should we have to pay for something we are required to complete? That doesn't seem fair. This is only one example in hundreds. Maybe we could lower the ridiculously high price of food at the unions and have more worthwhile campus events and programs? There are so many possibilities, but the ASUA cannot waste time by continuing to take a transparent stand on issues.

You, the next members of the ASUA, carry a tremendous responsibility upon your shoulders. It is your obligation to prove the ASUA's demise is reversible, that this association truly has some value for the students of our university. For although only death and bad grades are permanent, scars also leave a significant mark, and the student population has already endured far too many of these.