tuesday, march 3, 1981
daily nebraskan
page 3
AS
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UN ELECTION
Different reasons suggested for apathy
by students in preceding ASUN voting
By Tom Prentiss
When UNL students go to the polls to
morrow for the ASUN election, it will
probably be in a trickle and not a
stampede.
Historically, students have shown little
interest in ASUN elections.
Last year, about 3,880 students voted,
according to ASUN President Renee
Wessels. She said this was less than 20 per
cent of the eligible voters, but the turnout
was the highest in nine years.
But whether last year's high turnout was
the beginning of a trend or an exception to
the rule won't be known until after Wed
nesday. Wessels said lack of interest in voting is
not limited only to students. Americans
generally are not exercising their voting
privileges, she said.
Wessels said she does not think calling
students apathetic is fair.
"I think it's more a feeling of hopeless
ness," she said.
Wessels said students who do not vote
still do care about their education and the
university but they just do not believe their
vote will make a difference
Waste of time
She said that because ASUN is subject
to the whims of the NU Board of Regents,
many students may feel getting involved is
a waste of time.
She said she hopes the regents' recent
decision to end salaries for student presi
dents will encourage students to voice their
opinions.
Political science Professor John Comer
said students probably don't vote because
they think they have little control of major
issues.
Many students may think it is useless to
get involved with a system that won't help
them ," he said.
Comer suggested two other reasons why
students don't vote.
"Because students are only here for
four years or so, it mitigates the prospect
for involvement," Comer said. Many
decisions do not take effect until a year or
two later, he said.
He also said many students probably
think the regents will do whatever they
want, regardless of student sentiment.
Regent disagrees
Regent Ed Schwartzkopf of Lincoln
said he doesn't think that argument is
valid.
He said he doesn't know why most stu
dents don't vote, but it "doesn't speak well
for the student body."
Schwartzkopf said students may be too
busy to vote. Comer said students have
different priorities.
Most students are more concerned with
their career goals and finding mates at
college than campus elections. Comer said.
But Schwartzkopf said the ASUN
elections are an opportunity for students
to make their choices known.
"They (the students) are the consumers
and they have a right to increasing the
quality of their education," he said.
He said he would like to see more stu
dents represented as they formerly were at
UNL.
Then, six to 10 students would meet
with regents the night before their regular
meeting. Schwartzkopf said this was a
better way of gaining student involvement.
Wessels said candidates have to spend
too much time explaining ASUN to the
voters rather than explaining what they
want to do within ASUN.
Wessels said that each student's vote will
be more important in this election because
of the large number of candidates.
"Students have to take it upon them
selves to be responsible," Wessels said.
"They should take the time to contribute."
Election campaign funds differ between parties
By Lori McGinnis
The amount of money spent on campaigns by the
parties running in the ASUN election is as varied as the
party platforms.
The figures range from less than $10 by the STUPID
(Students Taking Unlimited Part in Democracy) Party to
about $900 by the SURH (Students United for Respons
ible Education) Party.
Rick Mockler. SURE presidential candidate, said about
S900 has been spent for posters, bookmarks, buttons,
business cards and radio advertisements on KFMQ to pro
mote the party.
The executive candidates for the SURE Party have
each contributed S30, the senate and Committee for
Fees Allocation candidates have each donated $15, and
the Advisory Board candidates have donated S10 each.
Steve McMahon, VOTE (Viable Opportunity for Total
Efficiency) Party presidential candidate, said his party
has spent about S600 on posters and stickers. The money
has come from contributions from party members.
Tom Vergith, presidential candidate from the CURE
(Coalition for University Revitalization) Party, said about
SI 50 was spent for posters, business cards and photocopy
ing for his party. Each party member contributed $10 for
the publicity, he said.
ARISE (Alliance of Responsible Individuals Stressing
Equality) Party presidential candidate Doreen Charles
said members of her party have spent $100 for flyers and
pins. The money has come from herself and from individ
ual contributions.
Charles said that once a name is recognized as a candi
date, people count more on personal contact, which she
said she is stressing.
Eric Johnson, presidential candidate of the Feminist-
Socialist party said he and his two running mates will
spend no more than $50 on posters.
Tim Higgins, PURGE ((Party for Urgent Redefinition
of Government Expectations) Party presidential candi
date, said about $40 has been spent for posters and ad
vertisements. Party members contributed $10 each
for the effort, he said.
Diane Walkowiak, an independent candidate, said
she has spent about $20 for posters and handouts.
STUPID presidential candidate Miske Frost said his
party has spent less than $10 on posters for a cam
paign he called ideological.
According to the ASUN Electoral Commission regu
lations for the 1981 student elections, an executive can
didate may spend up to $100 for his or her own cam
paign. Candidates for the senate, CFA, or Advisory
Board cannot spend more than $50 each. If a senate
or Advisory Board candidate pools money into a
party, the candidate may spend up to $37.50.
ASUN president Renee Wessels said that although
the amount of money is important in these campaigns,
it is more important how it is spent.
Money spent on posters and other literature helps
promote name recognition, she said.
Poll shows ho-hum attitude toward elections
By Betsy Miller
Student leaders and university officials will be watch
ing tomorrow's ASUN elections to see if the turnout
is higher than it has previously been.
An informal poll conducted by the Daily Nebraskan
showed that of 70 UNL students questioned, 31 plan to
vote, 27 do not plan to vote and 12 are undecided.
The poll included 18 freshmen, 23 sophomores,
eight juniors, 15 seniors and six graduate students.
Bridget Dawson, 20, an undeclared sophomore, said
she doesn't think the election is highly regarded.
"It seems like it's made into a joke, that it doesn't
seem important," she said.
"Why shoud I (vote)?" said Mike Wislon, a sophomore
engineering major. "I can't think of anything they've
done to enhance my education."
"I don't know the issues or the candidates to vote in
telligently," said Roger Delight, 27, a sophomore nursing
major.
T3"
Students who said they are planning to vote mentioned
the apathy shown toward the election in the past as one
reason why they would cast ballots.
"I feel the students should take a stand. Nobody else
is going to do it. Even if they can't have everything they
want, there should be some way of saying what we want
to the regents," said Theresa Goodall, a sophomore journ
alism major.
Jenny Dannenbring, 19, sophomore elementary educat
ion major, hasn't decided if she would vote because she
wasn't sure who all the candidates were.
Brad Gifford, an 18-year-old freshman business major,
said "I think I'll vote. I don't really know who to vote
for but I think I should," he said. "I think it's something
you should do. I'm not really up on the issues though."
Steven Schonberger, a freshman computer science -math
major, sais "If 1 can find the polling places, I will
(vote)."
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Scott Foley, a junior majoring in elec
trical engineering, said he voted in last
year's ASUN election and will vote again
this year. Foley, 20. lives in the Chi Phi
fraternity house.
"I know some of the people running,
and the issues are important." he said.
Jack Bergen, a senior recreational
therapy major, said he does not plan to
vote in the ASUN election this year.
"I hadn't planned on it because I just
started back in school," he said. "I'm not
involved enough. I think lots of the issues
some of the parties are running under are
junk. Some of them are relevant, like
student fees, the rec center, the union and
student health center."
Gary Hopkins, a sophomore industrial
engineering major, said he plans to vote
in this year's ASUN election.
"I think it's important to be involved
in the school system," he said. "They
(ASUN) have a good thing going with
student activities."
Hopkins. 21, was not a student at UNL
last year and so did not participate in the
ASUN elections. Hopkins lives off campus.
Photos by Jon Natvig
Ann Muldoon, 20, a life sciences major,
said she does not plan to vote in the ASUN
elections this year because she is not famil
iar with the candidates or the campaign
issues.
"I don't know a thing about it." she
said. Muldoon is a junior living off campus.
