It seems that in this highly-touted first democratic country, we need constant reminders that “democracy” requires citizen participation. America, as the first democracy, is constantly plagued with low voter turnout and little interest in either pursuing or supporting an elective office.

Everyone from our high school American government teachers to our elective officials all enjoin us to exercise our right to vote, at every election, no matter how insignificant.

One of those very “insignificant” elections is coming up quickly. In less than two weeks, you’ll be asked to vote for seven student senators and a student body president.

In the spring student government elections, three people ran for nine positions. Of those, only one that was elected (vice president) actually took office. On a campus of 2,500, only 21 people voted for a president and 25 for a vice president.

And now those elections are coming up again. The campus will be decked with fliers announcing the elections, encouraging people to run for office, and in the three days of the event a huge banner outside the cafeteria will announce – not only the elections, but how to vote.

And maybe, they’ll not only get someone to run for president but enough voters to actually elect them.

Student Government doesn’t really live up to its name at the University of Alaska Southeast. Though it’s made up of students, nobody outside that small circle seems to care. And as for governing, the only well documented action of Student Government is giving $150 to every club.

The presence of Student Government is so small on this campus, it’s no wonder why nobody cares about the elections.

But you should. Because Student Government has one very important function – they hand out the money.

Student Government collects $5 a credit at the Juneau campus, with a maximum of $75 dollars (or up to 15 credits) per student. 

With an estimated FY10 budget of $90,300, Student Government is keeping a low-profile with a lot of your money.

Student Government also advertises that its weekly meetings are open to any student who cares to come in. Or any student who dares to come in, suffer through a strict Robert’s Rules of Order, and might make it to the point in the agenda where something actually happens.

Something like a $500 bill of a Student Government table cloth at events, of a $800 bill for graduations photos, or a $3,000 bill supporting summer programs. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a constitutional amendment (it’s online, you know). And if you’re really lucky, you can witness some of the internal drama – like senator reinstatements after someone had too many meeting absences (4) or the impeachment of one of their members for sending a nasty letter to the Chancellor under a pen name.

Student Government is supposed to be a place where students can go, express their wishes and disappointments and get some redress. It’s supposed to be the voice of the students on the campus. It’s our only form of power to see that what the students want, rather than the staff or faculty, gets enacted on the campus.

Student Government is to that point yet. It’s practically invisible to the students and amazingly self-consumed. But with the presence of new blood (kudos to Reeves for wanting to get more connected with the students), and the possibility of an entirely new administration, maybe these Student Government elections can make them finally relevant.