Elections move forward despite low participation

Students at the University of Washington, Tacoma will have limited choices when it comes to deciding who will lead them through one of the most pivotal periods in UWT history: the freshman transition year.

A light ASUWT ballot will confront voters at the polls beginning April 17, with student disengagement responsible for the lack of choice.

After the candidacy-filing deadline passed April 3, only four students applied to run for the eight-person ASUWT senate, meaning that the 2006 race will be uncontested. Only one student filed to run for vice president. However, two candidates will run for president, ensuring one contested race this year.

Nick Bubb, a current ASUWT senator, and Weston Henderson are running for the highest seat in student government. Bubb has centered his campaign around student advocacy issues, while Henderson is focused on increasing the opportunities for student involvement at UWT.

"My goals include addressing all of the issues that will arise with the incoming freshman population, as well as reviving the student population's feeling of belonging and pride in UWT. I want to excite the student population and usher in a new feeling of college life for a new entering class" said Henderson.

Meanwhile, Bubb is taking a different approach. "Making college affordable, while providing healthcare, adequate parking, recreational programs, affordable housing and healthy food options are issues that need to be addressed with the university, city, state and federal governments," he said.

Bubb, who is a junior in the urban studies program, has served on the ASUWT senate for one year. Henderson, a marketing major, transferred from Tacoma community college and has no past legislative experience. After the elections, ASUWT will solicit help from the campus community to fill the voids in student government.

The responsibility of vetting the applications will fall on a three-member panel, most likely to consist of the current ASUWT president, one senator and a representative from the student body, according to ASUWT senator Keoni Ho. What this means is that the entire student senate for next year will assume their seats not through an election, but either by default or a hiring process.

This is part of an ongoing trend of student apathy that has been prevalent at UWT and has plagued the student organization recently.

Despite the fact that it is free to join the ASUWT and membership requires no time commitment, a majority of students decline the opportunity to enroll. Out of the 2,117 students who attend UWT, approximately 1,000 belong to ASUWT.

All students must decide whether to enroll during the registration process. By declining, students become ineligible to vote on ASUWT issues, cannot participate in events held by the organization and cannot hold office.

Even the students who belong to ASUWT have been reluctant to voice their opinion. The constitutional amendment vote held last quarter only drew 201 eligible votes, despite a week's worth of events designed to encourage turnout.

"I think there's been so much change this year and so much uncertainty with the upcoming freshman class that people are hesitant to get involved," said Shellie Jo Enscoe, manager of Student Life.

This presents a resounding challenge for the future ASUWT senators and leadership. Facing the mammoth task of helping shape what UWT will become as it transitions to a four-year university, the student government needs all the involvement it can get if it is expected to be representative of the student body.