Student Government Association elections are in full swing as candidates work to persuade students to vote for platforms, personalities and work ethics.
    But why should students get involved with this process?
    SGA elections can be a vital stepping-stone in the effort to ensure student concerns are well articulated and addressed on this campus.
    With last year’s elections generating a disappointing number of students voting, a message of apathy once again rang out loud and clear.
    The trend is frightening. Over the past decade, the average number of student voters has been 2,228, only a fraction of the student population.
    The election process is one way students can break our apathetic reputation and take a stake in the future of Appalachian State University.
    With a national crisis looming over students and an athletics-initiated plan to place areas supported by student fees on thin ice, the demands and challenges placed on the top two SGA positions have remained consistent, if not increased from the past two years.
    Thus, students must embrace their voting privilege and responsibly cast a ballot for the team most suited for the job.
    An informed voter must keep in mind several qualifications while choosing a ticket.
    The president of the student body should be an articulate and persuasive individual who will act as an efficient liaison between the students, the administration and Board of Trustees, as well as the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
    The vice president must be able to inspire senators to seek the input of their constituents and then effectively translate that information into appropriate legislation to be sent to the university’s administration.
    Students must also carefully examine each ticket’s platform and determine who has the most feasible and attainable goals.
    Once elections are complete, it is the responsibility of the voter to hold the officials accountable for vows made during a campaign.
    Non-participation in events such as this year’s protests against the athletic fee increase proposal are not only the fault of organizers within SGA, but the student body and the general disinterest it shows toward campus issues that will indeed affect everyday life.
    If leaders feel a sense of indifference from their constituency, their motivation to fully serve the office will be diminished, hurting efforts that might have improved student life on this campus.
    Truly qualified leaders must be chosen, and they must receive the necessary support of the student body to successfully fulfill their duties.
    Extensive information is made available about candidates’ platforms, including coverage in The Appalachian, pamphlets, posters, contact tables, Web sites and next Tuesday evening’s candidate debate at 7:30 p.m.
    Use it and cast an intelligent vote next week.
    Your voice is an important part in shaping the future of this institution and the students who follow in our footsteps.