The past few years, Student Union elections have not been competitive because too few students have run to make the elections challenging. Competitive elections force debate about how student government can improve Washington University and create a different type of accountability.

Additionally, competitive elections give students a chance to consider how Student Union (SU) ought to approach campus issues and which issues are most urgent. Most importantly, competitive elections are the only way for the student body to give SU feedback about what changes students would like to see.

SU has a significant impact on the University, and running for Senate is an important way to contribute. Like Treasury, Senate must approve SU’s budget of more than $2 million. Senate also has the ability to speak for students on issues that are important.

When SU drafts resolutions, the University pays attention. SU’s resolutions have helped push the University to take steps to offer mixed-gender housing and have given student groups and faculty a mandate to stand on while arguing for a sexual assault prevention coordinator. SU’s voice has a real effect on University policy.

A vibrant student government radically transforms a campus. SU will be the strongest, most representative voice if students have the ability through competitive elections to choose between different voices and push representatives to reach out to students. Senators should have to run for election based on their values and ideas for personal projects as well as their past record and the changes they have brought or failed to bring to campus. Competitive elections allow students to judge the quality of service that their current representatives have given and allow students to give SU a mandate either to change or to continue its current policies.

Running for SU Senate is an important way to serve the University community, because when you run for office, you place your voice into a campus dialogue. New voices lead to improved ideas for how to better the University and give students a way to make their own voices heard.

Recently, SU Senate elections have not caused much discussion, which means we have not had an opportunity to consider multiple ideas for what student government ought to pursue. Election packets are due on Monday. Pick one up, fill it out and run for office today. Running for Student Union Senate is one of the most important ways you can work to improve our University.