Admit mistake, hold another election
Editorial
Since choosing Crissie Renner and Michelle Nagle as student body president and vice president, Saint Mary's Election Committee and Appeals Board members persistently have stated that the student voice resonated in their minds as they chose the representatives.
Throughout the confusing week of elections, run-offs, filed appeals and complaints, however, it has become clear that they are misguided. The student voice has been loud but ignored.
Committee members were illogical in their decision to nullify the tie-breaking election that voted Emily Koelsch and Rachele Rodarte into office and to designate Renner and Nagle as heads of the 2000-01 Board of Governance.
Although she improvised the student government constitution, activities director Georgeanna Rosenbush made the sensible judgment to hold a tie-breaking election after Wednesday's first-ever even run-off. Students cast their decisions Friday and rested their faith in Koelsch and Rodarte with 50 percent-plus-one of the vote — the only of three elections in which a ticket acquired that simple majority.
Based on Renner's complaint that Rosenbush unduly assumed responsibility and that the off-campus student lounge was not used as a polling site, the Election Committee tallied the raw votes of Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, Feb. 2.
They gave the unsound nod to Renner/Nagle, who gained 43 percent in the original Jan. 31 election, which included four tickets. The committee, thus, ignored the 20 percent of students who voted for two tickets which did not qualify for the run-off.
After Wednesday's unprecedented tie, the election committee was forced to set a precedent. Reverting to the original election numbers demonstrates poor decision-making and the government's abandonment of its own procedures. By nullifying the tie-breaking election, importance is also stripped from the purpose of a run-off.
In this unique situation, student government should have allowed Friday's election results to speak for themselves. More students than not demanded Koelsch and Rodarte as their leaders. Democracy, logic and the student voice all rest in their favor.
Despite the outrage, confusion and disappointment expressed by students at Tuesday's Board of Governance meeting, current president Nancy Midden declared finality in the election process. Midden said the board will not reconsider its decision, and it will keep in office the two people whom the majority of students voted against.
Without question, the presidential election process has been muddled. The government has shown it lacks a clear grasp on the constitutional bylaws and their interpretations.
The board members said, considering this year's election fiasco, they will likely make constitutional amendments. This election, however, is the very one in which student governors need to apply students' demands.
The only way to restore confidence in the now-questionable Saint Mary's student government and in Renner and Nagle is for the government to admit its mistake and hold another election for the student body to clearly choose its leaders. After a poorly run election, this is the most ethical, logical, decisive and democratic method to elect the 2000-2001 president.
The step to overrule voters injures the trust students invest in the system and its rulers.
As a result of the debacle, damage already has begun to corrode BOG.
Renner has acknowledged her unpopularity among students and the obstacles that this will surely cause in her term. A visibly disgruntled Koelsch resigned Tuesday as the board's women's issues commissioner, citing lack of respect and belief in the very system she hoped to improve as student body president.
If this isn't rectified, BOG will lose more enthusiastic, qualified leaders who feel they must abandon a flawed system that perverts the democratic process.
Midden said student government's credibility rests on the constitution. As vocal students express fury, despondency and shock, and offer remedies such as a re-election, it is clear that all of the government's integrity lies its in listening skills.
Student government is not listening.
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 9, 2000
