A girl came up to my friends and me at the Hub during lunch and announced, "I need your signatures."
Without hesitating, my friends start signing their names, already knowing the normal routine of first-years needing a certain amount of signatures in order to run for a position for DePauw Student Government.
I, however, was not so quick to give up my precious John Hancock. I asked her, "What will you do for me if you get elected?" She was stuck. She replied, "I don't know, I just want to see if I can get elected."
I almost lost it.
Who would ever vote for someone who has no idea what student government is about nor could even make something up on the spot about how she will advocate for our rights as students or work to get better lunch meals? We all know that being a politician is about being quick on your feet.
Regardless of this girl's ineptitude to come up with a campaign slogan in order to assure me of her capabilities as a leader and get another precious signature for her list, should first-years even be allowed to be on student government when they don't know anything about it?
Although this one girl has given me a bad stench associated with first-years running for student government, I still know that it is essential for first-years to be involved in student government in order for the voice of our class to be heard. However, if you're going to run, you should know why you're running and what you intend to do if you're elected.
Luckily, I have several friends running for student government, who are more competent than the girl in the Hub. They happily informed me of the process and why they intend to run for a position in student government.
To run for Student Senate, you must obtain 100 signatures and write a platform about why you want to run for student government.
First-year Perrin Duncan is running for First-year Senator because she "want[s] to be active on campus, have the ability to make a difference in our school and have a voice for our [first-year] class."
Now, that sounds like someone I wouldn't mind have speaking on my behalf.
The Constitution of DePauw University Student Government states, "The mission of DePauw Student Government is to act as the chief advocate for the students of DePauw University, to implement any and all things possible to improve the quality of the DePauw University experience, and to affect positive change through encouraged involvement and communication with the student body, administration, and the faculty."
President Walker Chance encourages first-year students to get involved in the student government if they have even the slightest interest in bettering the DePauw experience and community.
"It is very important for first years to be involved in [student government], specifically in Senate," Chance said. "As we move forward with solving student issues, either through student-led projects or student legislation, the need for first-year involvement and the opinion that they represent becomes vital for the representation of the student body as a whole."
If you want to run for a position in student government, do your part to become educated on what student government actually does and know what you intend to do for the class of 2017.
-McCarter is a freshman from St. Louis, Mo. whose major is still undecided.