Senior Kim Kilmartin wasn’t able to voice her ideas as a candidate for the position of 2007-2008 Baker University Student Senate president at the candidate forum, originally scheduled for April 3.
Kilmartin is studying in Edinburgh, Scotland, this semester, but that wasn’t the reason. The forum wasn’t held on the scheduled date because Kilmartin was the sole student to hand in a petition to run for a student senate executive office.
From the inspirational film “Election” with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon to area college campuses, where there are things like campus political parties, campaigns and multiple candidates, student government is a big deal.
However, that’s not the case on Baker’s campus. After the initial plans for elections came to no avail, student senate President Ryan Boyer was forced to develop an alternate plan.
Subsequently, a handful of students were recruited. A second deadline for petitions Wednesday brought no new candidates for president, two for vice president, two for treasurer and one for secretary. The office of public relations is still sans candidate. Better, but not great.
The entire student body, not only those involved in student senate, should be concerned. However, we must wonder if Baker students really have the empathetic capacity to be concerned about the lack of concern on campus.
Unlike on larger and more active campuses, Baker’s senate elections won’t be a battle of ideas or suggested changes to campus.
A student body’s president should be full of promises and motivated by the notion of change. Not to say she’s not equipped for the job, but the unopposed Kilmartin doesn’t need any of that to win.
So why is it that Baker’s student government and the potential therein doesn’t seem to have the power to attract numerous zealous, hopeful student activists?
One potential reason is students don’t perceive student senate to be a platform for change on campus. The most notable proposal on campus this year has been the ongoing debate over the installation of cable in the fitness center.
While such a thing may seem frivolous, it’s a more innovative use of funds than the usual allotment given to campus organizations, which is one of few responsibilities assigned to student senate.
The rest is up to students. Students must define what they want student senate to do, what changes they want to see and what influence students have on the university.
However, with no candidates, no competition and no conversation, student senate has no reason to act.