Once more it's election time at the Student's Union, yet this year there is a distinct lack of candidates. Back in 2007 there were over 30 students running for the six available sabbatical positions, this year there is less then half that number. So what's going wrong?
Democracy, we all know the history, how it's meant to be one of the greatest conceptions of the modern world, and to a certain extent this is true. Why is it then that no-one seems too bothered that this year two of the SABBS positions are going uncontested. To be fair its no-ones faulty that only one person has put themselves forward for these positions, but it still makes me sad that I will have no choice (other than to vote for nominations to be re-opened).
Interest amongst students seems to waver between extremes, those who are passionate about a particular cause or those who care but don't think they'll make a difference. The challenge seems to be getting people engaged with politics, something that is a nationwide problem.
The picture nationally reflects this; in the last general election only 59% of those registered to vote turned out to vote compared to the 76% in 1979 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
For a country that has gone to war with others to overthrow dictators and introduce the institution of democracy, most recently in Iraq, we are a people who seem increasingly to ignore our own politics.
Certainly we hold the ideals that a democracy brings to heart and we would be outraged if they were to taken away from us. I know very few people who don't hold one opinion or another over the war in Iraq, yet one of the major justifications was to bring democracy to the Iraqi people, something that has had limited success so far.
For an institution that we all feel so strongly about you would think that we would all be more willing to go to the polling station.
One of the most noticeable falls in recent statistics comes from those aged 18-24 (my own age group?!), in 1998 the British Social Attitudes Survey found that only a third of people believed they had an obligation to vote, compared to four-fifths of over 65 year olds. This makes for grim reading, yet there is hope for us 'young adults'.
Statistically those young adults in education are more likely to be interested in politics and less likely to have formed an attachment to a particular political party, suggesting that they are far more likely to make informed decisions about political parties, instead of being influenced by older generations.
So how to go about exciting young people into voting and engaging with local and national politics; if you look at the current state of affairs in America, where there has been an incredible surge in the number of people voting, we can see that people are interested, they just need to be more inspired.
The current race to become leader of the Democratic Party between Barrack Obama and Hilary Clinton is at the centre of this change. Each of these candidates are unique, Obama as the first black man to run for presidency and Clinton as the first woman. It would seem that this shake up in candidates has made all the difference in America, as they edge away from traditional middle class white males.
Obviously American politics are completely different to the situation within the Student's Union but perhaps we can take some of their ideas and use them to really excite students into really getting involved with their Union. It is well known that elections are mainly a popularity contest only second to policies so why not hold mini rallies!
So how does this all relate to our own Union? Admittedly the comparison is fairly far fetched, but consider for one moment the reassuring fact that young people aren't indifferent to politics and why should we be?
Here at Swansea we have one of the highest turn outs of Union elections in the country, some feat when you consider we are only a relatively small institution. It is true that times have changed for the average student, the days of rallies and protests have all but disappered. Yet that doesn't make us any less politically aware, in a world where we are constantly bombarded by the media it's hard not to have a vague idea of politics. Let's face it though; with a guy like Gordon Brown in charge of the country, it's prehaps not surprising we're bored of politics.
I don't have to go into the well known history of the women suffragettes or mention the oppression that some people face in other countries to get across the importance of democracy.
Perhaps it is harsh to call us hypocrites of democracy, but for a country that believes in it so strongly, we don't really show it.
At the level of our Student Union, where we are (stereotypically) called 'the next generation', it is a sad fact that we don't seem to care who runs it. Does this mean we won't care about politics in general? I doubt it. But id we're making a stand about how we want things run, get our voices heard about issues that matter to us, like library opening times, then we really need to get more involved. I'm sure those who've entered themselves as candidates this year have done so because they love Swansea and want to make it the best place for us, all they need now is our support.
All of this doesn't answer the question here as to why people here at Swansea seen to be ignoring the importance of our Union. I'm sure there are many reasons that people could give. I'm certainly not going to preach the importance of voting, and I certainly don't have any answers to the indifference that is plaguing our society. But next time you're in JC's remember it's the Student Union that helped set the price of the beer you're drinking.
(Waterfront article - Issue 165)
The student union sabbatical positions are being voted on today at my uni. I voted on
principle, but I'm shocked at the number of people who plan not to vote?!
These are the same people who complain about how our SU is run but yet cannot be arsed to vote?
This apathy is poisonous! It goes against everything this country stands for. How can we call ourselves a democracy when half the population doesn't believe in voting any more? Do we even deserve to have a democracy if people are going to let their vote go to waste?
Our right to vote is precious! USE IT OR LOSE IT!
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