Student groups divided down party lines
Every semester the University of Colorado Student Union, CU’s student government, holds elections to determine who CU’s next student leaders will be. Controlling over $30 million dollars in student fees, UCSU is the most powerful student union in the nation. They fund and control 12 student cost centers, the largest of which are the UMC, Wardenburg and the Rec Center, and they form and debate policy that guides the campus and its students.
Despite the influence the elected members possess, it is rare for more than 20 percent of CU’s large student population, numbering near 30,000, to vote in the spring election. Fewer than 10 percent of students have historically participated in the fall elections. Two years ago, the number of students voting dipped below 1,000.
The Campus Press will break down the positions, the process and the people in an 11-part series that will run through April 20, the last day of voting. Stay with The Campus Press during this time for developments and results regarding the 2007 UCSU elections.
The various platforms of this year’s University of Colorado Student Union election have received mixed endorsements from the multitude of student groups on campus.
Both the “Unity” Tri-executive ticket of Sara Martinez Davine, Charles Gilford III and Hadley Brown along with the “Pursuit of Value” platform Tri-executive ticket of Taylor Portman, Jamie Smolski and Benjamin Finn have a wide amount of support from the student body and from the student groups they happen to be affiliated with.
UCSU Elections 2007: CP’s 11-day Series
Part 1 | Rules of the race – The ins and outs of CU’s election code
Part 2 | Taking office – The elected officials and what they do
Part 3 | Repeat runners – What they’ve accomplished, why they’re back
Part 4 | An apathetic audience – What UCSU is doing to make you care
Part 5 | Showing support – A look at CU’s student groups and the candidates they endorse
Part 6 | The candidates – An in-depth look at the election hopefuls
Part 7 | The voters – Students who vote, and why they care
Part 8 | Voting trends – A look at the winning tickets of the past, and the stronghold of the campaigners
Part 9 | $30 million strong – An analysis of UCSU and how it differs from other student governments in the region
Part 10 | Autonomy – A look at the 1985 agreement that gave UCSU its power today
Part 11 | The campaign trail – Candidate experiences from the 2007 campaigning process
“I definitely have the endorsement of the Coalition Against Sweatshop Apparel, Student Worker and a lot of those related social justice, environmental groups,” Brown said.
Gilford has the sponsorship of the organizations and groups he is involved with as well.
“We have the support of our communities,” Gilford said. “I definitely have the support of the diversity community, but also the student group communities in general, whether they be diverse or otherwise. Given the fact that we have been able to work so closely with each other to be able to further our own representation on campus and to make sure our expression is heard, we have definitely been able to gain that support and maintain it. We just have great representation all across the board.”
Current UCSU Tri-executive Andy Aitchison, who is also spokesman for the “Value” ticket, said many student groups have not fully endorsed the “Value” ticket based on a low level of publicity of the elections thus far. It is clear the members of the “Value” ticket have substantially less coherent endorsement from student groups than “Unity,” however, they feel their platform transcends the level of student groups.
“I am sure that some student groups will come along and endorse some of the same things we want, but at the same time there’s a vast majority of CU students who don’t actually participate in student groups,” Aitchison said. “It’s kind of a matter of, how do we get ahold of their opinions and their views and kind of take advantage of the fact that we can draw them in and really hear what they have to say as well?”
Portman said that it is not necessary to have the endorsements from certain special interests.
“We really don’t want to be considered a special interest ticket in any way,” Portman said. “As far as getting endorsements from student groups, I don’t know if that is completely what we are trying to go for. We really support every student on this campus.”
Atchison’s predictions hold true for the CU College Republicans.
“The College Republicans oppose any referenda that would increase student fees,” said Justin Yarusso, chairman of the CU GOP. “Keep in mind that if we did oppose any specific issue or candidate, to publicly announce our opposition would run counter to the UCSU’s undemocratic election code. There are many fine individuals that serve in UCSU, but we have no confidence in UCSU to effectively manage itself or our student fees.”
The Greeks have taken a hands-off approach to official endorsements of the candidates; however, their influence is clear on both sides of the table. Many candidates on both sides are members of the Greek system, and the entire “Value” Tri-executive team is part of one campus Greek organization or another.
“Panhellenic does not endorse,” Davine, who is the director of Greek relations on the Panhellenic Council, said. “Our NPC, National Panhellenic Council, does not allow the endorsement of political affiliations. But, I do have my board’s support. They’ve been really awesome and we’ve definitely had great Greek support during this and they are really excited about our potential and it’s just really nice to know that at the end of the day, I have really good friends who are really supportive of what I had to say and what the ticket stands for.”
Aitchison agrees.
“IFC and Panhel have steered clear of endorsing anybody in particular, because they have their own agenda and they have their own issues to deal with. The ‘Value’ ticket is really comprised of individuals who care a lot about the students at the university, of which Greeks are only a small part. So, for the ‘Value’ ticket, it’s really about making sure everyone’s voice is heard, everyone’s opinion is represented and everybody’s agenda is included.”
As the election hubbub begins to grow, more student groups are sure to throw in with one group or the other as the contentious issues plaguing UCSU this semester are once again brought to the forefront.
Friday: Who’s running? What are they asking for? What are they promising? – A dissection of exactly what a vote for a certain candidate means.
