Democracy time

USG election time presents chance for students to have a say

Undergraduate Student Government elections are here again.

For two-and-a-half weeks during Spring Semester each year, students are informed and, many times, entertained by those running for USG president and vice president.

"Get ready for some more this year; we're sure it's bound to be entertaining once again."

The past two years have brought the University an interesting array of candidates. A 12-inch penis ran for president two years ago and some candidates last year made a pudding slide on what used to be known as the HUB lawn or handed out beer funnels to passers-by.

Get ready for some more this year; we're sure it's bound to be entertaining once again.

However, The Daily Collegian Board of Opinion wants to emphasize that candidates need to follow campaigning rules. The candidates should be focusing on the race and the current issues affecting the student body, not on who has broken the most rules.

And during all of the fun and games that may happen during the election weeks ahead, University students need to remember that the offices of USG president and vice president are not all entertainment.

The positions of USG president and vice president are serious business. They are the student voice -- our voice -- to the University administrators.

The administration often looks to the USG president and vice president as the student representatives for various issues that concern all of us, such as tuition increases and State College Borough Council disputes.

So, students need to vote for the candidates they think will be the best representatives for the undergraduate student body. They need to vote for the people they think know the issues of the campaign and for the students who are truly in touch with the student body.

To inform themselves of what issues are important this year, students must educate themselves on each of the candidates' viewpoints by attending the debates. The three debates will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow in 110 Wartik; from 7 to 10 p.m. March 23 in 301 HUB and from 5 to 8 p.m. March 30 in 102 Thomas.

Get informed about what's happening in our student government, and vote for the best candidates April 1.