The failure of 50.4 per cent

* this editorial appeared in the Jan. 29 edition of the Xaverian Weekly

"We're going to stick it to StFX," proclaimed an ambitious University of Ottawa Elections Bureau radio host on that campus's radio station last Monday morning.

There's plenty of praise for StFX's record-shattering voter turnout last year. Conversations with student journalists across the country confirm it: Everyone is in awe of the 50 per cent turnout feat, and their respective students' unions are scrambling to beat it — all of them failing.

For years, StFX was just like every other university across Canada, struggling to get students to vote. Students' unions were accused of corruption, scandal, over-spending, self-indulgence and the list goes on. Participating in union elections felt like trying to get the big kids to let you play ball. Disconnect was synonymous with student politics.

Last year, a strong, competent and visionary elections office, combined with an engaging executive, managed to convince almost every student that their vote mattered and that nobody was truly disenfranchised from student politics.

Democracy was alive; the gloves came off and for the first time in student union history, we gave a damn.

But last year's efforts will all be in vain. The enthusiasm and engagement of last year are virtually non-existent.

Compare the number of posters that campaigns have raised across campus. Compare the number of buttons, advertisements and discussions. Compare the major issues on the lips of every student. How many people are even aware of the election, let alone who's running?

What about the simple fact that not a single Senate or senior class president candidate has been announced? Or, that the union’s chief returning officer resigned on Tuesday, claiming things are too disorganized?

On the heels of a landmark campaign that raised StFX's profile across the country, when the eyes of student governments from coast to coast are upon us — we seem destined to disappoint.

Last year's vote handed this year's executive the confidence of most students on campus. All they had to do was keep relations on par and who could fault their work?

But things haven't been on par and union-student communication, or lack thereof, has been the biggest factor.

Take Drive U for example: This was one of the better, more plausible ideas that came out of last year's election. It was one of the first promises the new president and vice-president followed through on, and they even managed to sign a deal with a grocery store in town that got students discounts.

But it's been failing miserably because students don't even know it exists.

This election is suffering from that same lack of publicity.

I've seen two, count 'em, two posters — on 8.5 x 11" computer paper — advising students on how they can submit their names for candidacy.

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa — largely in its efforts to beat StFX's record — put together such an extensive recruitment campaign this year that they have ten candidates running for Board of Governors alone.

Now that's engagement. It's the kind of engagement we had last year and it's the kind of engagement that's been tossed out the window this year.

Students need to know you care about them, even after you've been elected. Unless something drastic happens in the final days of the campaign, voter turnout will decrease dramatically, just like old times.

If the University of Ottawa wants a fight, we're ready to hand them their victory. Our students gave it 50.4 per cent and the union hasn't been able to even meet us halfway.

By Danielle Webb