With elections finally over, most students will likely return to an activity they’re pretty good at — ignoring Student Government.
However, it seems that this year’s elections have one more bit of scandal to offer before being collectively forgotten. Student Body President Kenny Tracy appointed Trenton Smith to his chief of staff — the same Trenton Smith named in elections violations brought against Tracy’s campaign. Tracy’s campaign allegedly promised Smith a high staff position during his race for the presidency, a charge that almost brought a disqualification from the elections commission after hours of deliberation and what basically amounted to self-important posturing — only to be overturned by the constitutional council. Despite all that the commission did — or, more appropriately, failed to do — it seems that patronage is alive and well in SG, much as it is at all levels of government.
The suspicion that this appointment raises is striking, but it is highly doubtful that the average student will be moved to voice any opposition or field any accusation. What this should instead mean for SG is that a change must occur within the elections process. Either SG relaxes its principles and refuses to waste time and energy over patronage like this, or the elections commission enforces its provisions. What SG cannot continue to have is a lengthy process that ends only with inaction.
If the elections commissions is not going to take full action on accusations, then the “principles” it is tasked with enforcing should not exist. If you want change, see it through. Sometimes the difference of half of a point means so much more; sometimes it means the difference between the integrity of a system and the proof of its usefulness.