If I had to choose a single word for this year’s ASUW elections, it would be “ugly.”

I sympathize why there would be differing opinions, I understand why either opposing side would have been impassioned about their ticket losing, but this “public discourse” has become nothing but hateful rhetoric. Everybody vented some steam. Let’s move on.

The simple fact is: Megan Degenfelder and Ty McNamee won the election. It will be these two who will now go on and represent us—whether we voted for them or not. I am not saying this as a MacDeg supporter, which I wasn’t, but as a student who is interested in what will happen in those Tuesday senate meetings, Trustee presentations and other opportunities in which Degenfelder and McNamee’s decisions will affect me. Right now, they have to make their choice of ASUW executives for the next year and it is now, and throughout the following two semesters, that we as a student body should use our energy to express what we want from them.

What we shouldn’t do is pull a Glenn Beck. Polarization is something that might come naturally in an American political system, but this is not “Republican’ts” against “Democraps.” Our student government needs to be less like a popularity contest and more about issues. Again, if there is an issue you want to see addressed, get going now.

However, I’m not advocating a blank check either. Our president and vice president promised us certain actions: from a better ASUW image to an increased sustainability effort.

I share some of the concerns that others voiced, especially with the “how to.” One such effort by the vice president is to increasing knowledge about ASUW through education at orientation. For McNamee, having been an orientation leader last year—a fact that certainly helped the ticket with their freshmen votes—and again this year, his goal will probably come easily to fruition.

But what about harder issues? It might have been Alex Sullivan-Brink and Jaryd Unangst who campaigned with the promised goal of holding UW accountable to the roughly $12 million it promised ASUW, but now it is the responsibility of McNamee and Degenfelder. I hope it won’t just be the Branding Iron that will hold them accountable to that next year.

Yet, we cannot create issues where none exist. After all, ASUW cannot magic hundreds of brand new, original pieces of legislation into existence that all somehow cost no money whatsoever and decrease our student fees at the same time.

I would be happy to see just one new, successful and student-inspired initiative (sorry, but sustainability doesn’t count) from next year’s student government. For that to happen, we need to trust and expect ASUW to work hard, while ASUW needs to trust us to support them and voice our suggestions respectfully.

David Demic

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