Students’ union apathy

WITH ANOTHER YEAR’S Sabbatical election voting over, it is appears that apathy is spreading amongst the student population.

Statistics show that students are becoming less inclined to vote, with last year’s turnout standing at only 16%. Whilst in 2004, 3511 people voted in the election for DSU president, in 2007 this figure had fallen to 2211, a decline of almost 30%, as the overall student population rose during this time.

Apathy is an issue that is of particular concern this year, where a turnout of at least 20% is required in order to ratify the new DSU constitution. A poster campaign was run last week in order to encourage more students to vote, as well as some more unorthodox methods: two PCs were poised on the reception desk that stayed logged in to the voting site 24/7, and a banner declaring ‘Vote Now!’ was draped over the Kingsgate bar balcony.

It seems also that students are less keen to run for Sabbatical positions. 2003’s election saw 7 candidates run for the position of DSU President, but in recent years the number of candidates has fallen: in the past three years only 2 candidates have stood for the position.

The number of candidates for Education and Welfare Officer has also decreased; 2006 saw an uncontested candidate. In general, fewer people vote in the elections for Education and Welfare Officer. Figures plummeted in 2006 when only 569 people voted, a drop of almost 80% from the previous year, when 2891 students cast their vote.

The number of students voting varies between colleges too. St. Chad’s and Van Mildert have had the highest percentage of voters for the last two years, perhaps due to the fact that last year and this year, the Presidential candidates have come from these colleges. Ustinov, John Snow and George Stephenson produced the lowest percentage of voters last year and look set to do so again. It seems also that Hill Colleges are more likely to vote than Bailey Colleges.

To investigate further, Palatinate went to talk to students during election week to see how strongly people feel about the running of the DSU and if they intended to vote. The response was not one of overwhelming enthusiasm. Despite the fact that the majority of those asked were aware of the DSU elections, a large number were either not going to vote or were at least apathetic towards the contest.

A lack of information and publicity was consistently cited as a cause for lack of interest, Cuth’s student Bronwen Jones commented; “I think it would be a wasted vote, I don’t really know who the candidates are or what they stand for. It would be a bit hypocritical to vote.”

It appears that a lack of faith in the DSU Sabbatical officers has discouraged students from voting. “I’m not sure how important the elections are having never seen any practical turnout from what they [DSU Sabbatical Officers] do. Maybe if I saw more tangible results I might think it was more important,” says Matthew Wright.

The college system too has led to some students feeling disconnected from the DSU and struggling to see where it fits in; “I don’t really feel involved and its not that important to me, the DSU seems quite distant due to the colleges at Durham,” says Louise Trigg, Aidan’s.

Despite the general lack of enthusiasm for voting amongst many students, some provided a more positive response. Kat Leigh from Aidan’s reflected: “The DSU elected offices are at the centre of the student community and societies,” she says.

However, it appears the motivation to vote largely depends on who you know. One respondent even said, “I only voted because I saw the Presidential candidate in Loveshack last night.”

Image Copyright Andrew Gray