Tuesday, 4/22/97 Dismal turnout focus of election concerns Key
issues include involvement, bureaucratic efficiency
By Frances Lee and Hector Ronquillo Daily Bruin Contributors If
a government fell in the forest, and no one was there to hear it,
would it exist? That’s the question that many graduate student
government officials are asking. And the answer they’re getting is
a resounding "no." "I did not know (the Graduate Student
Association) existed," said first-year law student Colin Adams.
Adams isn’t alone. In fact, he’s more the rule rather than the
exception – a problem many in GSA hope to correct this year. During
last year’s elections, fewer than 10 percent of the campus’ 10,000
graduate students voted, according to GSA President Chris Tymchuk.
This year, the figure could be slightly higher since GSA is
offering "voting incentives," including a free plane ticket and
gift certificates, to draw students into voting booths.
Additionally, there will be voting booths in 18 departments, four
manned ballot sites and voting via e-mail through the GSA Web site.
Nevertheless, no one is anticipating a rush of voters. "Even though
there are more voting booths this year, many students will not be
informed about the issues because they are too busy with their
research," said Christine Wilson, a doctoral candidate in Slavic
linguistics and appointee to the ASUCLA Board of Directors. "It
takes too much effort to get involved because it goes beyond what
they are expected to do," Wilson added. The problem of voter apathy
has traditionally been a cause for concern with all elections. But
as Wednesday’s GSA elections approach, abysmal voter turnout leaves
many government officials searching for a solution. Between
research, working as teaching assistants and worrying about their
careers, few graduate students have time to concern themselves with
campus politics. In addition, many graduate students don’t feel the
necessity to vote, since they are disillusioned with how big of a
role GSA plays on campus. Many students did not even know that
elections started on Wednesday, an issue which concerns GSA
presidential candidate Andrew Jon Westall, a graduate student in
the School of Urban Planning. "There’s no incentive for grad
students to get involved, and less if they don’t know (about
elections)," Westall said. His campaign efforts have included
distributing 1,500 flyers to grad students, detailing when the
election is, locations of polling places, and the availability of
electronic voting. "I haven’t seen any of the other candidates do
anything" about voter apathy, he said. "It’s ridiculous that apathy
is so widespread." Indifference toward GSA is especially high when
compared to its undergraduate counterpart. Though traditionally
less involved, graduate student government has not always been
nearly defunct. Graduate students may simply have different
priorities now than in years past, which would account for the rise
in apathy, said John Du, president of the Undergraduate Students
Association Council. Du cited that campaign efforts of
undergraduate students include holding dorm parties, tabling on
Bruin Walk, talking to students and holding endorsement hearings.
But distributing flyers and sending out e-mails seems to be the
extent of the graduate students’ campaigning. In addition, "there
are many international students who are not very concerned with GSA
because all they care about is getting their degree and going
home," Wilson said. Other graduate students disagree, maintaining
that it is the government’s responsibility to keep its constituents
interested. "GSA should sponsor more social events so that we could
have a more effective community," said Gerard James, a first-year
law student. "We need parties, just like the undergrads." Robert
Davenport Candidate