Campaign season has finally closed. Buttons and business cards fill the trash cans around campus, huge campaign signs are broken down and Facebook groups are no longer spammed with campaign propaganda. Those seeking office have either celebrated their victories or wallowed in loss while the rest of the student body responds with the question, “There were elections?”
Voter apathy is nothing new, and only about 8 percent of the student body votes in these elections. Even apathy toward Student Government is overwhelmingly prevalent based on the number of uncontested candidates seeking positions. After being involved in campaigns this year, there was a question repeatedly asked that reflects the perception of Student Government: “What do they even do?”
The short answer can be defined on their website as “a student-run organization that serves as the official voice of the student body.” But this definition was found after navigating the clearly outdated website with a front page that hasn’t been updated since last summer. The longer answer requires us to break SG into its three main branches — judicial, executive and legislative — and analyze their specific powers.
The judicial branch is easiest to explain with the most defined scope of influence and perhaps the most removed from the SG entity. Housed within Clark Hall, the judicial branch handles conduct cases. So unless you’re cheating on a test or drinking underage in your residence hall, you’ll be unaffected by the judicial branch.
The executive branch grants us, as students, one major voice of influence when they serve as one of 13 people on the Board of Trustees for NC State. When big decisions are made about NC State as a whole, such as whether or not to renovate Talley Student Union, 7.69 percent of that decision comes from who you elect as student body president. But again, if only 8 percent of the student body votes, then that’s mathematically 0.6152 percent of the students’ voice at NC State.
The legislative branch is the most obscure branch of SG. With (semi-)filled representation from all nine colleges and a few other student groups, it acts as “an advocacy body” and “enacts all legislation necessary and proper to promote the general welfare of the student body” which includes $14.50 of student fees. Essentially, SG takes your money ($410,000 in total) and distributes wherever it sees fit. Sometimes this is good. Student groups get appropriations of this money, programs such as Packapalooza and Campout are funded and initiatives like Wolfpack Pick-Up are financed. But to be totally honest, all of the examples I’ve listed are the extent of my knowledge.
So what does Student Government do based on the powers bestowed upon it? Not that much. What can it do? A whole lot more. Through executive orders, our executive branch can serve as a role model on campus. Their name recognition and title can be used to better campus and show support to make a change. The legislative branch can help influence policies and truly represent its constituents. Student Government varies in competency and execution from year to year because it is solely based on the drive and motivation of the students within it.
So, hopefully, I’ve answered a little bit about what Student Government does. It accomplishes a great deal when the elected officials are engaged and inspiring student leaders who see their positions as an opportunity to facilitate change and prosperity instead of an ego-boosting resume point. But on the years where you are only reminded of SG’s existence during campaign week, you may want to reflect on the faults of the past to make an informed influence on the future.
Meredith Biechele is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering
