The Facts:

The results from Tuesday’s student body elections came back early Wednesday morning with Kelly Hook and Stephen Kouba as next year’s student body president and Student Senate president, respectively.

Our Opinion:

Accountability is the key word. The candidate-elects are only getting their feet wet at this point, but they must think about the long-term accessibility of Student Government.

Early Wednesday morning, the nail biting from waiting candidates came to an end with the announcement of Kelly Hook as next year’s student body president along with Stephen Kouba for Student Senate president. Both candidates advertised profoundly, but certainly should take a great deal of satisfaction from well-run campaigns on substantial platforms.

And though his platform is only a drop in the pond of the task in front of him, Kouba must follow through on his proposition to lead the Student Senate back onto level ground with the students. It is easy for candidates to talk the talk, and it is even easier for winning candidates to fake a sprained ankle when they need to do the walking.

Accountability was the key word of this election. Candidates emphasized the existence of a disconnect between students and their government, signaling an end to some of the out-of-touch governing from the past year. Even better, they seemed inclined to fix this problem by moving the frequent Student Government meetings to more public places.

The second floor of Witherspoon Student Center is not a common hangout spot for the average student. However, tradition and cushy chairs make it a choice place for high and mighty student politicians. But with the new modus operandi of accountability, this needs to change.

If accountability breeds humility, Kouba and his Senate must stand by their word and consider other places to hold meetings. It would be nice to walk by a Student Government meeting in the Court of North Carolina or around the new benches south of the Free Expression Tunnel.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for Student Government to actually publicize. It could possibly get the sort of student interest Brickyard preachers gather.

Change and Student Government don’t always go together like peaches and cream, but hopefully Student Government will break the stereotypes of politicians and become accountable by attracting more students to its meetings.

You could give us food, T-shirts or a dunking booth. Or, just take the easy way out and move your meetings to a high-traffic area.