Student Rita Sebti calls on students to cast their votes for the university elections to be held next week.
At the heart of every policy of the board of directors lies approval from the university council. From the decision of lowering the bsa requirement during the Covid pandemic to the creation of a prayer room in the UB, we have witnessed the power that twelve students have over our academic experience.
What some might not know is that they are elected yearly and as a student, you have the power to be heard through them by casting a vote.
However, every year, it’s the same pattern: everyone complains but very few vote. As a candidate for the elections, I realised there is an aversion to voting amongst students. And it raised the question: why do so few people vote?
We can’t blame the university for not announcing it when the Central Voting Office harasses us with emails during election week. Neither can we blame the candidates that during the same period can be found chasing down poor students running late to class.
So can it be that students simply don’t care?
It gives you an opportunity to make a real change
At the end of the day, university is seen for many as a rite of passage, a temporary hardship for a ‘better’ outcome. On a national level, we vote because we have strong opinions about how our government should be using our money and attributing rights.
In comparison, the university elections seem like another bureaucratic task to complete, made worse when people aren’t familiar with any of the candidates. In addition, as others are completing their final year, they realise that they won’t be able to experience the changes they voted for. So should we still vote?
To that final question, the answer is: yes! Because voting is more than a right, it’s a tool. A tool to reshape and rethink our policies and academic environment. It gives you an opportunity to make a real change and leave that as a legacy once you graduate, something the next generations of students will benefit from.
By not voting, we risk being misrepresented and feeling unseen. For all these reasons, I encourage you to cast your vote between May 13 and 17.
Rita Sebti is a third-year law student and a candidate for the university council.