MSA elections, students don’t care or just unaware
It has been another year of Mohawk Student Association elections and another disappointing turnout. Despite responsibility for about $6 million in student money, the MSA was unable to raise interest in the elections, receiving a total of 490 votes in a student body of about 12,500 students.
“It’s definitely tough; it’s something we are faced with every year. This was certainly worse than previous years; voter turnout was very bad for us,” MSA President Daniel Clark stated. “But we still put a lot of man power into it, we’ve still invested money into it to try to boost the profile of the elections.”
The MSA ran a campaign for the election from Feb. 6 to the tenth, with voting taking place from the 13th to 15th. The MSA has a stipulation that prohibits students running for election from campaigning while voting is taking place.
The campaign involved posters around the school, online bios and videos as well as voting booths placed in certain areas around the school. The efforts seem to be wasted however, as less than four per cent of the eligible students felt the urge to have their say.
The majority of students interviewed stated that they simply couldn’t be bothered with the student elections; they would rather come to class and go home, nothing more. Many other students stated that they would not be around long enough to really get involved. Clark shared the same sentiments.
“The mentality of a lot of college students is that you’re just going to school, you’re doing your classes, you’re going home and working and then you’re coming back the next day; we face that a lot.”
Mohawk College student, Amanda, voted at this year’s election but feels that there is not enough awareness created by the student electives.
“They could come into classrooms, take two minutes and explain what it’s all about and make everybody aware; it’s going to have a big influence. You want them to make you feel like you’re a part of it and you matter, your vote actually makes a difference.”
Next year’s MSA President will be Andy Hall, who has won by acclaimation. This is the second year in a row students will be unable to vote for their student president. Being unable to vote for the most prominent MSA position may factor into why students are so uninterested in the entire process.
