Dear SGA; an open letter

Dear SGA,
Here are some things I have been thinking about lately. However, this time they are not only about me and they are important. Enjoy.

First of all, I am sick of being pressured to vote in any type of election-really. I tolerated getting the Facebook messages every day from the same people. Facebook is nothing besides “stalker-net,” and a big, fat marketing tool. In fact, I even voted in the elections because I believe in voting and I believe that SGA helps students tremendously.

However, the pressure some members of the SGA put on people
to vote in the elections this week was completely inappropriate. I say this because when I checked my e-mail Tuesday evening, I found a message e-mailed from a Blackboard account that was sent out from a student in my literature class titled “SGA Senate elections are today!”

This e-mail not only told me that I absolutely had to vote in the Senate elections, but also told me exactly who to vote for, with a list of people the candidate endorsed. After reading this message, I simply stared at my computer screen in disbelief because I could not grasp the fact that somebody had the gall to send out an e-mail about SGA elections over Blackboard-a site that is supposed to be used for academic reasons only.

I could have understood if it was an e-mail addressed to all VCU students, such as the one that SGA President Jibran Muhammad sent out at the beginning of the voting period on Oct. 6, which encouraged all students to vote in the elections. But Blackboard and all communication through Blackboard should not be used to encourage people to vote because a potential senator deems a certain election “important.”

I had to restrain myself from sending an e-mail that would have been a little less than courteous with a few “Anchorman” references thrown in for my own personal amusement.

It is natural that SGA wants the student body to be active and use its voices by voting in their elections. However when pressure to vote becomes excessive, it makes the entire organization look unprofessional.

Speaking of which, I cannot help but wonder and remain befuddled as to why members of the SGA, many of whom aspire to have careers in politics, do not have any idea how to deal with the media. The CT cannot print libelous e-mails or letters accusing assorted people in the SGA of doing things of which people have no proof. Just because something is written does not make it true.

Furthermore, when messages are sent bashing other people in an organization, it gives very little incentive to delve deeper into a situation. The CT welcomes submissions and encourages them, but not submissions that insult and make accusations of people.

I am not blaming anybody personally for any gripes I have, but that e-mail, even if it was a joke, it was something that should never have seen the light of day.

SGA is here to serve the student body, not to use VCU as one’s personal playground to gossip and blatantly pressure people to vote.

At the end of the day, the only really important election coming up is the one on Nov. 4. I am tired of being told what a big deal SGA elections are every semester. It is great to see people so spirited about their organization, but maybe we should all just take a few steps back and take 10 deep breaths and remind each other not to take ourselves so seriously. Come on guys, it’s college.

I can smell the angry letters that are about to come my way. Like I said before, The CT welcomes submissions.