By Ron WilliamsA.S. President
Student Government is about activism. Activism produces change.Change is the only thing that ever made a difference.
Each year at San Diego State University, students are asked, bypopular vote, to elect their peers to be leaders of studentgovernment and activism at SDSU. These leaders will represent theinterests of students on campus and in the local, state and nationalcommunities.
For the past several years, when called upon to elect studentgovernment leaders, we students have participated in record-lownumbers. The answer that I get from many students about why theychoose not to participate is usually something like, “It doesn’tmatter” or “I don’t care.” It does matter, and every one of us shouldcare.
Student Government matters because it is this group of our peersthat is charged with representing our individual and collectiveinterests. It matters because the people who are in the leadership ofstudent government are in a position to influence and control so manyaspects of life on campus, including student fees, parking,availability of course sections and the affordability of studenthousing. It matters because these things affect every student atSDSU.
I am fortunate to have been elected by the students of SDSU tohold the office of Associated Students President this year. As such,I have experienced and can affirm many of its challenges. Holdingthis office is no easy task, and it has challenged me inunanticipated ways. If I could identify one thing that has been to myadvantage, it would be the fact that I was a vice president, first. Ilearned early on that Associated Students is an organization designedto serve the interests of all students, not just certain students orcertain groups. It’s an organization that must promote campus unityand not divisive politics and personal political agendas.
While we have many students and student organizations on ourcampus with, what are sometimes competing interests, it is importantfor all these interests to come together under the umbrella ofAssociated Students. And it has been the work of the scores ofstudent activists who have served in years prior that has enabled theStudent Government to arrive at the point where we are now effective.
There’s a lot at stake this year. Our state is in an economicrecession — we need student leaders who will advocate for increasedstate funding for the California State University system. There’stalk of an increase in student fees throughout CSU — we need studentleaders who will advocate against increased state university fees. Weare in the midst of budget cuts — we need student leaders who willnot allow our university to raise fees and simultaneously cutprograms and services. Our university is over enrolled — we needstudent leaders who will fight for the adequate funding of coursesections in all academic programs. What’s really at stake is thefuture of students and our ability to make wholesale change on thecampus and in the community.
We are now at the point in the year where we, as students, areagain asked to elect the leadership of our student government. And ofparamount importance is that SDSU students elect the most competentand committed leaders whose only interest is advancing the interestsof all students, specifically electing the best Associated StudentsPresident.
When I ran for A.S. President, I didn’t have to compete for theoffice. I ran unopposed. This year we have competition, which isgood. It calls upon us to make a choice. When you go out to the pollsthis week, which I sincerely hope you will, I urge you to make aninformed choice when it comes to electing next year’s A.S. President.
As my choice for A.S. President, I’m voting for Priscilla Ocen,and I appeal to you to do the same. When you read the literature, thecandidate statements, and hear the speeches, I am confident you willagree with me when I say Priscilla is the best person for the job. Iam voting for her because I believe we need an A.S. President wholeads with conviction. We need someone who is an activist and not apacifist. We need a president who will stand up for student issuesand is committed to every student at SDSU, people like you and I, andeven those who may never read this column.
Again, I urge you to vote this week. I’m voting because I feelthat I have an obligation and a responsibility to participate. I hopeyou feel compelled to do the same.
–Ron Williams is a political science senior and President ofAssociated Students.
–This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com.Anonymous letters will not be printed, include your full name, majorand year in school.
