2008 Woodie Awards
Officials, students concerned with low turnout in SEC elections
By Micah Wells
Contributing Reporter
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Campus News
An alarming trend of reduced candidate pools in the Student Election Commission Week spring elections over the past three years has Student Affairs officials and student leaders concerned about student involvement in years to come.
This year, there was only one candidate for Student Government Association president, Patrick Walker-Reese. Walker-Reese, a senior business administration from Nashville, won his position with a total of 888 votes cast in his favor.
"There has been a (decline) over the past several years," said Director of Student Activities Ronald Myles. "As a result, we've had to have special elections every year.
"There were people who were certainly qualified to run for positions," he continued. "For some reason or another, they just decided not run."
Xandelyn Wright, 2007-08 SGA president, said she had own theory why people didn't participate this year's elections.
"Students don't run for positions in SGA because they don't care and they are misinformed," said Wright, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Houston. "Also, they are uninterested."
Denisecia Kirk, a junior biology major from Memphis and SEC chairperson-elect for 2008-09, said there was general sentiment amongst all members of the commission that this year's elections weren't carried out as best as they should have. But she said she is committed to finding ways to improve the processes.
"I was very surprised that only one person was running for SGA president," Kirk said. "Don' get me wrong - Patrick was a good person for the position. Also, he is well-known and people knew he was running."
Both Myles and Kirk said that in many cases students may put in an application for SGA but change their minds prior to the nomination convention that takes place on Sunday of SEC Week. Such was the case with Melvin Williams, a sophomore psychology major from Memphis, who decided to take on leadership responsibilities in another student program or organization.
This year, there was only one candidate for Student Government Association president, Patrick Walker-Reese. Walker-Reese, a senior business administration from Nashville, won his position with a total of 888 votes cast in his favor.
"There has been a (decline) over the past several years," said Director of Student Activities Ronald Myles. "As a result, we've had to have special elections every year.
"There were people who were certainly qualified to run for positions," he continued. "For some reason or another, they just decided not run."
Xandelyn Wright, 2007-08 SGA president, said she had own theory why people didn't participate this year's elections.
"Students don't run for positions in SGA because they don't care and they are misinformed," said Wright, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Houston. "Also, they are uninterested."
Denisecia Kirk, a junior biology major from Memphis and SEC chairperson-elect for 2008-09, said there was general sentiment amongst all members of the commission that this year's elections weren't carried out as best as they should have. But she said she is committed to finding ways to improve the processes.
"I was very surprised that only one person was running for SGA president," Kirk said. "Don' get me wrong - Patrick was a good person for the position. Also, he is well-known and people knew he was running."
Both Myles and Kirk said that in many cases students may put in an application for SGA but change their minds prior to the nomination convention that takes place on Sunday of SEC Week. Such was the case with Melvin Williams, a sophomore psychology major from Memphis, who decided to take on leadership responsibilities in another student program or organization.
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