Candidates reflect on poor voter turnout

By JAMES W. BAKER
Collegian Staff Writer

Voter participation is usually viewed as a problem that affects only state and national elections, but Undergraduate Student Government officials and candidates have found that even campus politics can suffer from lack of participation.

Reflecting recent trends in national voter turnout, the number of students voting in USG elections dropped from 5,789 in 1993 to 4,953 last year -- down from 6,526 in 1992. About 37,000 students are enrolled at University Park.

Students involved in the upcoming USG elections point to many different causes for the apparent lack of student interest in campus politics.

Robin Jaffe, USG commissioner of publicity and debates, believes that lack of knowledge represents the biggest obstacle to student turnout.

"Students don't recognize the important role that USG plays," she said.

Issues that do not match student concerns seem to be another problem, said Corey O'Brien, candidate for USG president. He said student participation will be low if "people's issues aren't addressed."

Still another factor to be considered is the wave of political discontent that has swept the nation, resulting in a general feeling of helplessness.

"A lot of people probably think, 'What difference is it going to make?' " said Josh Bokee, candidate for USG president.

It is quite a big difference in the view of Steve Castor, head elections commissioner for the USG. Castor indicated that a low turnout can pose some serious difficulties for USG when it comes to dealing with the administration.

Representatives who are elected by a small number of students do not have the same political clout as representatives who have the support of many students. The result is the very serious possibility that "students will lose their voice," Castor said.

For different reasons, both candidates and elections officials have made student turnout a high priority for this year's election, placing emphasis on platforms and candidate recognition.

"The biggest thing we are trying to do is get out and get our message out," Bokee said, adding that comparison of candidates' platforms is the focus.

O'Brien is seeking to "lure" students to the polls with issues that he thinks will directly impact students, he said. "We're trying to educate as many students as possible on the issues we feel strongly about."

Efforts by the USG elections commission to bring attention to the candidates and the elections include public service annoucements, opportunities to meet the candidates and varying debate locations, designed to increase involvement among students who live off campus.

Elections officials hope those attempts will be successful in increasing turnout but admit they are hampered by budgetary and regulatory constraints.

"It's hard to be creative," Jaffe said.