- Online elections stir more students to vote
- SGA officials expect apathy to decrease as they 'bring
ballot booth to front door'
By Tealy Dippel
staff reporter
Students were given the opportunity to vote by computer for the first
time the week of Oct. 25 for Homecoming and with about 1,300 students voting,
Student Government Association officials hope to see the same trend for
officer elections Wednesday.
SGA began working to change TCU's system of voting in Spring 1998 and
now that a contract was signed Oct. 21, students had the ability to vote
online for Mr. and Mrs. TCU. Throughout the week, SGA members hoped for
a better student body voter turnout compared to the past, and they got
it.
"There have been kinks; it's not perfect, but voter turnout has
gone up 150 percent since Homecoming last year," said Adam Ryan, vice
president for Programming Council. "That to me shows people will vote
online."
Brian Casebolt, a Clark Hall Representative, said he thinks the system
is more convenient now that students now have more accessibility.
"It brings the ballot booth right to the front door," Casebolt
said.
As SGA officials began looking for an alternative to paper voting, they
considered swipe-card voting and looked at the possibility of using the
city of Fort Worth's voting equipment. After comparing several options,
they decided to hire La Forge Digital Enterprises after La Forge contacted
them last summer. La Forge is based in Iowa City, Iowa, and specializes
in digital "e-lection" hosting.
"We wanted to look for a better way to do elections, and we've
found it," said Jason Cordova, chairman of the House Elections and
Regulations Committee.Cordova said online voting encourages students to
vote because it gives them the opportunity to vote from the comfort of
their own home and gives students a 24-hour time period to vote during
elections.
Cordova said aside from providing more accessibility, online voting
is more accurate because it eliminates scantron machines and paper votes
which he said rules out the possibility of human error.
"This system is very accurate in that you can vote only once for
one candidate in each category and the votes are tabulated each time which
removes the need for a recount," Cordova said.
Because TCU could not release the identification numbers and birthdates
of students, all students were assigned a new log-in name and a password.
Ryan said although the new system might have been difficult for some students,
the new names and passwords made the system more secure.
"This ended up working better, even though some students don't
use their delta account," Ryan said.
In an effort to promote the new system and to inform students about
voting changes, SGA officials sent out an all campus e-mail with the information
needed to vote.
There were, however, some problems the first day of voting when the
server went down and some students were not able to cast their vote.
Brian Becker, chairman pro tem for the Elections and Regulations Committee,
said some students expressed concerns about the server.
"There were some concerns, but as soon as the server came back
up we heard nothing but good things," Becker said.
Ryan said the new system hasn't worked for everyone because there were
server problems, but he said with a new system it takes time to become
familiar with new procedures.
SGA President Ben Alexander said online voting will make elections more
visible to students, but said there will be changes.
"There will be short term adjustments for the student body because
they will have to learn to check their e-mail accounts," Alexander
said.
Jenni Jones, co-chairwoman of Homecoming, said she thinks TCU students
are used to the system now.
"Having Homecoming before elections I think got the problems worked
out," Jones said.
Becker said he thinks the system is getting TCU up-to-date especially
with other schools.
"Online voting has brought TCU into the 21st century," Becker
said.
Ryan said he hopes SGA will get to the point where they can run elections
internally instead of having another company involved.
Cordova agreed, saying he hopes that one day through FrogNet, TCU's
licensed version of PeopleSoft, SGA officials will be able to run elections
without the help of another company.
"We've come along way from the past to now, and the good news is
that I don't think we've come to the stopping point," Cordova said.
Tealy Dippel
ttdippel@delta.is.tcu.edu
Skiff Editorial Board Endorsements
| The Skiff editorial board is committed to endorsing Student
Government Association officer candidates after conducting personal interviews
and reviewing their answers to a set of written questions, which can be
found in the pages of this Voter's Guide.
The board spent two days last week conducting extensive interviews
with each of the candidates for SGA president, House vice president, vice
president for programming and treasurer. During that time, the position
of secretary had no applicants, and the editorial board was unable to conduct
interviews and consider an endorsement. Since then, however, three students
have applied. You will notice their answers to the questionnaire appear
with the answers of the candidates for other positions.
The editorial board consists of 10 students who are familiar with
people, issues and events on campus. Because we had the luxury of interviewing
the candidates, we believe these endorsements - and making them known -
are our duty and responsibility as a newspaper staff. However, we suggest
that you decide for yourself who you think is best for each position based
on your personal goals for the university.
After careful consideration, we selected the following individuals
who we believe are the best candidates to lead the student body in 2000.
Whether or not you agree with us, we still believe it is your responsibility
to vote Wednesday in the first online election for SGA officers. |
-
President - Ben Jenkins
For the position of Student Government Association president, the Skiff
editorial board endorses Ben Jenkins, a junior international finance major.
Currently SGA treasurer, Jenkins has worked closely with both branches
of student government: the House of Student Representatives and the Programming
Council.
The referendum that the student body passed last month restructured
the responsibilities of the SGA president. Future presidents will now have
less of a focus on House responsibilities and more focus on being a liaison
between students and the administration.
This type of interaction between House and PC is vital to the growth
and development of the student body, and Jenkins possesses the people skills
and the knowledge of the system that would make him a qualified president.
Jenkins also said he wants to continue where current SGA President Ben
Alexander will leave off when his presidency ends. Running not on the idea
of change but on promoting what is being set into place, Jenkins has the
right idea. While some improvements are needed in SGA, we recognize that
it is important to build from the past and continue with realistic goals.
The other candidates - James Applebury, Walker Moody, C.J. Striebinger
and Hawk Wolcott - exhibited varying degrees of enthusiasm, determination
and leadership skills that would benefit SGA, but Jenkins had the most
compelling balance of these qualities for the office.
He has high expectations of other people and holds himself to the same
standards. Jenkins said he leads by example, not expecting anyone to work
harder than he does. The three adjectives he used to describe himself were
"intelligent, sincere and open-minded." Based on his answers
to our questionnaire and his interview, the Skiff editorial board agrees.
The Skiff editorial board thinks that, because of his experience with
PC and House, Jenkins is well-prepared for this office. If elected, his
sincere approach to leadership and student government will allow him to
guide SGA and build on this year's actions.
House Vice President - Kenny Oubre
For the position of House vice president, the Skiff endorses Kenny Oubre,
a junior economics major.
Experience is one of the most important assets House vice president
can have, as she or he is responsible for conducting House meetings and
other hands-on work of the House. Oubre has much experience in a leadership
capacity, having served as an orientation student assistant, a highly respected
student in the student development office and a member of House for three
semesters. While the art of delegation - which is a must in leadership
positions of all kinds - comes easily, Oubre seems to have put in enough
hard work to put himself on the map.
Oubre also has both composure and enthusiasm, which will carry him far
in this position that leads the House during its weekly meetings and the
day-to-day running of student government. His vision to make the House
more inclusive - so that all campus organizations can benefit from what
SGA offers - was inspiring, and his idea of organizing all House committees
to meet at a certain time not only makes the House more accessible to outside
students, but shows promise.
With this organization, House delegates and other students would be
more likely to attend committee meetings. The House's committees, we believe,
are an important arm of student government that helps to give students
a voice in what happens to this campus.
While other candidates had varying levels of experience and were well-qualified,
Oubre stood out because of his passion, another important qualification
for any SGA office. His sense of concern about other students seems genuine,
and his policy to "turn things around and make student government
a House for all students" may give apathetic students an accomplishment
to look forward to.
He describes his leadership style as one that is task-oriented. He says
he's an "abstract thinker with concrete objectives." We believe
the ability to see the big picture of what's going on across campus will
help him be a good listener who will act upon concerns that may not even
be brought before a House meeting.
His experience and involvement in other activities and groups outside
the House also help him be one of the most well-rounded candidates for
House vice president.
VP for Programming - Meredith Killgore
For the position of vice president for programming, the Skiff editorial
board endorses Meredith Killgore, a senior criminal justice major.
In her response to the Skiff's questionnaire, Killgore wrote, "I
don't really think that I have done anything that is so unique as to set
me apart from the rest of the student body. I am really just a simple person
who wants the best out of life for myself and for others."
Killgore's sincerity and honesty is part of the reason we endorse her
for the office of vice president for programming. Even though she is the
only candidate, we feel she is the best person for this position.
She has an extensive amount of experience. She has been a committee
member, a committee chairperson and a member of the administrative cabinet.
During her years in PC, she has seen many concerts, speakers, comedians
and various other performers come and go. She has a sense for what kind
of programs work on this campus and what don't.
She also has solid knowledge of how PC runs. She was instrumental in
the shifting of positions within the council. Last year, when Adam Ryan,
current vice president for programming, took office, she and Ryan took
steps to reorganize PC so it could better serve the students. The effort
included combining several of the committees and reducing the number from
nine to seven so the committees could concentrate on spending money more
effectively.
Because of her commitment to the organization and her knowledge of the
way the council works both internally, with other campus organizations
and the House, we feel Killgore would serve successfully as the vice president
for programming.
Her leadership style works well with a position that deals with programming.
Killgore seems to be a very approachable, a quality that is decidedly advantageous
when it comes to entertainment and co-programming opportunities with a
variety of campus organizations. Members of groups must feel comfortable
enough to come to her when they have programming ideas, and we feel she
is the type of person who will listen to ideas and help map out the tasks
that must be done to see an event happen.
"I myself don't have much of a bearing on the type of programs
and events that Programming Council will bring to the campus because it
is all up to the student body and the chairpersons of the seven standing
committees of Programming Council," she said in a Skiff questionnaire.
"If the student body wants a 'big name' and the Programming Council
executive board is willing to work on it, then I will support them and
do everything within my power to make sure that it happens."
Treasurer - Stine Lunden
For the position of treasurer, the Skiff editorial board endorses Stine
Lunden, a junior accounting major.
We believe Lunden's experiences as treasurer of the International Student
Association and her understanding of accounting and financial management
principles through business classes enhance her list of qualifications.
Lunden would offer diversity to the Student Government Association in
two different ways. If elected, she would be the first international student
to hold office. Lunden said she sees the situation as a "historical
turning point for the betterment" of SGA. So do we.
Lunden would also bring a fresh outlook on the allocation of SGA funds.
She said she wanted to "allocate funds to various organizations that
bring prestige and notoriety to the university." Lunden's desire to
evenly distribute funds between a variety of organizations will not only
help to further diversify in SGA and at TCU, but give campus groups a fair
chance at student government funds.
Lunden has plans to obtain a tax exempt 501c3 designation for the SGA.
If it works, the achievement would allow entities to make contributions
to the SGA that would be tax deductible. We believe these funds will help
SGA create its own revenue, and it makes us feel better about the $20 all
students are required to give to SGA.
Lunden wants to take steps to help TCU become a recognized acronym across
the globe. Her plans to fund and promote international exchange and travel
to attract international students to the campus, as well as her idea to
create a global Web site will help extend the notoriety TCU has continued
to work toward.
Lunden said she is still establishing the principles behind achieving
some of her goals, and she is open to outside help. Her honesty with us
is another reason why the Skiff editorial board has chosen to endorse Lunden.
Lunden may be the only candidate for the office of treasurer, but members
of the editorial board believe Lunden will perform well in the position
during her term.
- Candidate Questionnaires
The Skiff invited candidates for Wednesday's Student Government Association
elections to answer questions about their goals and qualifications for
their respective positions. Click on their names to view the questions
and each candidate's responses.
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