Take part in the ASG elections

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ASG leadership elections are in full swing. It’s a fairly important matter that demands student involvement, but voting for this election doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

You may even be wondering who and what the ASG (Associated Student Government) are. As described on its Mt. Hood web page, “The association exists to enhance the educational experience for all students at Mt. Hood Community College.” ASG is divided into three branches: The Student Senate, the Executive Cabinet, and the Student Activities Board. The members set up all kinds of campus events, such as the huge spread in the Main Mall last week. They work to promote activities, co-curricular programs and more.

The ASG president represents the voice of the student body. He or she is responsible for being a conduit of our concerns with the MHCC administrative board, president and other major authority figures. So, it’s crucial to have somebody you respect and trust in that position.

For many of you, this stuff is just background noise. That’s fine, but if you’ve ever had a concern or problem with the college, the ASG president is your best advocate.

There are plenty of ways you can learn about the candidates. There are vice presidential (on Monday) and presidential debates (Tuesday) being held next week, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Main Mall, that you should definitely attend. And you can plan running into a few candidates swirling around school, working to draw your support near the voting deadline.

If you can’t (or don’t want to) attend the debates, The Advocate will provide plenty of coverage on the candidates that gets to the core of their stances and goals. We will also endorse the candidates we think are best fitted for the job. Basically, we will have everything delivered to you on a paper platter to make deciding on a candidate, or president/vice president easy.

There also are some cool elements to participating in the ASG election that may not be instantly apparent.

How often do you get to attend any kind of political debate, especially one on such an intimate level? You can pop in and out of the debates with ease and be within spitting distance of the candidates. This may be on a much, much lower scale than higher political matters, but it’s still great that in an election, even one as low-key as this, you can personally meet and talk with the people running to represent your concerns.

It also can be refreshing to take part in something where your vote feels like it has real power. When voting for the president or vice president of America or whatever measure is being proposed, it’s often hard to see the purpose of your vote among millions of Americans. Sometimes, your vote can be rendered useless through Electoral College rules. Since there are many fewer votes determining the ASG president than in other high-stakes elections, one vote carries plenty of weight.

Politics really doesn’t get more personal than this. The people running are your peers, and fellow classmates. The issues they will be addressing are digestible and relatable. Things such as book prices, cafeteria food and tuition are things we talk about everyday and understand.

If you’re a student who cares about Mt. Hood, you owe it to yourself to get educated on the candidates and make an informed decision on who will be the leader of next year’s ASG and student body.