Editorial: USAC should pass new election code to maintain dignity of offices
By Editorial Board
Feb. 3, 2015 1:48 p.m.
An overhaul of the undergraduate student government election code is long overdue.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council will vote on several amendments to its election code at its Tuesday meeting. In order to ensure that future elections are fair and properly regulated, the council should vote to pass the changed code in the form presented by the Election Board.
Controversial spending and questionable campaign tactics have tainted the legitimacy of USAC elections for years. Recently, former USAC Internal Vice President Avi Oved was accused of not disclosing his campaign donations from a pro-Israel donor, and candidates were sanctioned for not properly reporting their finances – issues the upgraded code would help resolve.
Disclosing campaign fund sources and restricting spending are common practices in most election regulations, and USAC should not be an exception.
Among its many changes, the reformed code sets spending limits at $800 to $950 for executive candidates and $650 to $800 for nonexecutive candidates. Although candidates have the option to adhere to voluntary spending limits under the current code, traditionally only uncontested offices have stayed under the financial ceiling.
Caps are an essential part of fair student elections because they even the playing field for many potential candidates, allowing students without excessive financial resources to run for office.
For the first time, financial caps would also be placed on slates as a whole. If passed, the new code will recognize the existence of slates, which have dominated USAC politics for years and essentially act as political parties, helping students pool resources and run more effective campaigns.
Slates are a decades-long tradition, and ignoring their presence made it difficult for the Election Board to regulate the true practices of an election, such as pooling money and advocating for a slate rather than a specific candidate.
By recognizing their existence, the Election Board can put much needed spending limits on slates as a whole and require them to disclose any donations.
To gain their constituents’ trust, all public officials should strive to be as transparent as possible, and that transparency begins with campaign financing.
Election Board Chair Shagun Kabra, a third-year mathematics/economics student, and his board were finally able to propose necessary changes that his predecessors did not have the time or the will to implement.
It is now up to councilmembers to capitalize on the opportunity to make important upgrades to their election code.
All councilmembers should pass the election code reform without hesitation, to ensure the dignity of their offices.
