Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Boycott the They remind one of an old car in an incredible state of disrepair-clouds of noxious blue smoke spewing from the tailpipe, bald tires, cracked windows held together with masking tape, and the motor backfiring, sounding for all the world like it would explode at any minute. They are a wreck that has somehow managed to keep on running long after it was due at the great junkyard in the sky. Yes, the student government election procedures are in undeniably bad shape. Wednesday, unless an appeal is made to the Supreme Court, the student body will be asked to take a ride in this derelict old machine, and elect a few of their fellow students to an organization that is ineffective, unrepresentative, and full of mis-guided back-stabbing political hacks. Voting in this election would be a mistake. This is the third consecutive election that the student court system has been asked to rule on the validity of election procedures. Petitioners have cited gross mismanagement of the elections process, usually concerning the election itself, but this time the nomination procedures. In an incredible 11 page, single-spaced typewritten opinion, a district court has ruled that the procedures used by the Elections Commission were the "minimal required standards" but adequate. The major points of contention are that (1) notice of filing date, election date and relevant election regulations was inadequate and (2) that the length of the filing period (four hours) was inadequate and insufficient. We fully realize that the court has made an exhaustive study of the case. However, we take issue with the court's opinion that the procedures were adequate. They were miserably inadequate. The elections commission tried to notify the student body of the election primarily through this newspaper, public address announcements in dorms, and a few posters haphazardly drawn up at the last minute. (The ones they had ordered printed did not come in time.) The court said the elections com mission did the best job it could, but that GAMECOCFs The Gamecock is published twice weekly on Monday and Thu during the fall and spring semesters with the exception of univi holidays and exam periods. Change of address forms, subscription requests and other mail should be sent to The Gamecock, Drawer A, UsC, Columbia, 29208. Subscription rate is $3 per semester. The Gamecock this received $38,000 from the student activity fund entitling full-tim dents to a subscription. Offices of The Gamecock are rooms 317,31 319 in Russell House on the university campus. Telephones are 772 and 777-4249, news, and 777-3888, advertising. Second class pj paid at Columbia, s.C. Although The Gamecock is a publication of the students of the Ui sity of South Carolina, it is not an official publication of the unive The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the the university, the student body,.or all staff members of The Gam.. elections the notification procedures are inef fective. It then accused The Gamecock of dereliction of duty because we were not, in their opinion, cooperative in printing the information. From the court's perspective, Student Government and Student Governme:' elections are important. From our perspective, and we think, most students', Student Government and most of it's activities are almost irrelevant. When Student Government shows that it is effective in bringing change to the university and improvement in student's lives, it will get the coverage it deserves and not before. We do not expect this in the foreseeable future. The court also said it was "concerned by the fact that the Elections Commission did the very minimum required of it and nothing more." This, we think, is the whole problem. Substandard procedures will never be ida - 'tm r stu ver- Y sity.j e of ne. (Show you care) effective. The court and nearly everyone else concerned with student government, recognizes that the procedures for elections are unclear, arbitrary, and generally full of holes. Until they are corrected, and it would be a massive job, student elections and thus Student Government will continue to be devastating failures. There is doubt even then that much would change, though it would be a step in the right direction. We suggest that after this year's student government has its fling, a group of hard working, intelligent, diplomatic, non-ego-tripping students begin work on a University Senate. BUT FOR THE PRESENT, BOYCOTT THE ELECTIONS! THIS WOULD BE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SERVICE THE STUDENT BODY COULD REN DER TO ITSELF AND TO THE UNIVERSITY. c e and S Orer Yrings Rn advance deposit of $3O JEWELRY'S FINEST CAaFTSEN.