Should students get more voting power? Pro: Give students a louder voice

JACKSON HAYANO Reporter @RoundupNews

There is an old saying that every voice matters. And while this may be true, the unfortunate reality is that not every voice has an opportunity to be heard. And this a problem that Pierce College currently has.

Sure, there are organizations such as Associated Students Organization (ASO), which represent student interests. But students must go directly to their office or get in touch with an ASO representative in order to voice a concern. And even then, there’s no guarantee that the concern or matter will gain much traction.

The idea of student voting would allow ASO and the administration to not only reach out to more students, but to get feedback on ideas and issues that directly affect them.

The voting could be online too, which would eliminate both the need for tellers and for paper ballots. Websites such as SurveyMonkey make it quick and easy to create a voting poll that can then be sent as links to all student emails. Thus, the process of creating a poll, sending it to students and counting the votes becomes quick and accessible.

As for which issues to be voted on, all ASO would have to do is create a list of any current topics that are being discussed in Academic Senate or Pierce College Council (PCC) meetings.

On top of that, there can also be a suggestion box where students could submit possible ideas or issues that could be voted on.

Student voting would keep students up to date with what’s going on around them.

A weekly or even monthly email with a voting poll would showcase to students all the matters that are currently being discussed on campus. So, student voting would also play a role in keeping students informed on current issues.

About 95 percent of Pierce’s student population is aged 18 or older, making them eligible to vote in local and federal elections.

So, if Pierce students are able to vote on issues that concern their community and country, then why shouldn’t they be allowed to vote on issues that pertain to the college?

Plus, people are always trying to encourage younger folks to vote in upcoming elections.

The idea of student voting at Pierce would help students get into the habit of voting and could also show them the difference that their voice makes.

The act of voting has become increasingly popular among college students. According to Tufts University, 31 percent of young people aged 18 to 29 voted in the 2018 midterms elections, which was a 10 percent increase from 2014. The fact that more people are showing up to vote ought to be indicator that young people have a voice that wants to be heard. jhayano.roundupnews@gmail.com the Student Services Building. From Monday through Thursday, their hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Fridays, they are open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for medical appointments and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for counseling.

Faculty could even encourage student voting by offering extra credit on tests or homework for students who vote.

In the end, what we would get with student voting is a more connected, educated student population that is engaged with what goes on around them. Too many students here are kept in the dark over important issues. Student voting would help popularize and publicize issues that are circulating around campus grounds.

As paying students, it’s our tuition and our tax dollars that keep the school funded and running. Therefore, it only seems fair that we have a right to vote on issues that will affect our experiences at Pierce.