Opinions

Vote or die, student participation in ASI election is important

From April 12-15, Cal State Long Beach students will be given the opportunity to voice their opinions in the Associated Student, Inc. elections. Yet, true to form, the vast majority of the student body will end up not voting — like they always do.

Everyone knows the White House isn’t at stake in these elections. They may not be about health care reform, the exhausting “War Against Terror,” or something involving sexy Sarah.

But they affect each and every one of us, whether we realize it or not.
So why doesn’t anyone seem to give two shits about who’s running things around our blue pyramid-loving campus?

During last year’s election, approximately 4,000 students — out of the 34,000 enrolled at CSULB — voted in the ASI elections. That’s 12 percent rounding up.

This is pathetic. With the hell the California State University system is going through, why wouldn’t every student take a chance to vote for things they have a say in.

Many people seem to assume one little vote will not count, so they rely on everyone else to vote. There’s a problem with this: Everyone makes that assumption! We all know the saying that goes with assumptions.
Don’t make an ass out of you or me.

If you think you will end up making the decision to bypass voting, just hear me out for a minute. Furthermore, if you think you will vote but don’t know how, listen up.

There is a high probability that no one votes in our student elections because they simply do not know how to go about doing so. It’s so easy a caveman could do it. Sorry, couldn’t help that one.

But, seriously people — here’s how it works:

1. All you need to do is access your e-mail account and find an e-mail from “Associated Students, Inc.” with a subject titled “2010 ASI Election.” Visit the URL provided in the e-mail, follow the instructions and submit. Bam, you’re done. Easy, I promise.

If you cannot locate the email, check your spam folder, and if that still doesn’t work then f–k you. I’m kidding. At least you tried this year.

2. Once you have made the wise decision to vote, the quest to vote for the perfect candidate begins. This is becoming as riveting as the search for the Holy Grail.

So who’s it going to be?

On April 12, each candidate’s platform will be revealed on the voting Web site. At that time, you will be able to learn about their stance on specific matters.

Perhaps you’re in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics like yours truly, and the race between Teresa Bui and her running partner JR Caldera versus Joyce Lee and Michael Quibuyen is putting you in a mental game of tug-of-war.

Hint hint, go with the latter candidates.

Or maybe you still don’t care.

Whatever the case, voting on this campus is not difficult no matter how you slice it. More importantly, the issues at hand concern every student on campus.

So come on guys, just vote. Our new and improved Prospector Pete would be so proud.

Jessica Wood is a junior biology major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.

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