BSU active in Governor’s Race
Campus preparing for election
By Andrew Pooch and Nick Jelacie
Word Count: 842
The Governor’s race is fast approaching its conclusion and BSU is low in their involvement of the election. The plans had been set, then fell through and now students may go uninformed into the election booths on Nov. 2.
“We had planned on having a governor’s debate at the BREC, but one of the campaigns pulled out so now we are focusing on a mayoral and city council debate, said Student Senate Co-President Kyle Moellering. “On Oct 18th, the College Republicans and College Democrats are hosting a debate for the state House and Senate Candidates next week as well.”
This missed opportunity at the BREC leaves students with no exposure to the Governor candidates. One of the main platforms is change in Minnesota education. College students should be highly concerned with how this election will affect their time at college.
In August, the primaries were held to choose the Republican and Democratic candidates who would run for Governor of Minnesota. The candidates that emerged were Mark Dayton for (DFL), Tom Emmer (R), and Tom Horner (I).
This election is especially important to students at BSU. Each candidate has a different view about how education should be handled and since BSU is part of the education docket, there should be concern.
Dayton wants Minnesota to start spending more on each student. The classrooms are overcrowded and under funded. If elected Dayton said on his Web site, “I will increase our state’s investment in public education so that we can achieve smaller class sizes, and other innovations that are proven to improve outcomes for our kids.”
FOX News reported that Dayton would like to college to be more affordable for the middle class. Education goes beyond grade twelve. Minnesota Daily reported that Dayton see too many students with school loans and part of his plan included cutting high-paid Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employees.
Emmer wants to see education outcomes improve for all students. His way of making this happen is through improved student achievement, improve teacher and school accountability, address teacher effectiveness, and facilitate innovation within our current system.
Emmer said on his Web site, “I would be committed to real change and to real improvement for my kids and for all Minnesota’s children. Minnesota has been and remains the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family. With these education reforms we can ensure that it remains so for the coming decades.”
Minnesota Public Radio reported that Emmer’s budget plan relies on actual cuts in state spending on higher education. He wants the institutes to be more efficient. He will look at ways to make it more affordable. Inflation on college campuses are running beyond other sections of the budget.
Horner views the education of Minnesota as a struggling system. Children are unprepared to attend school and many drop out to early. To fix this problem, he to see more accountability from school districts, investments in technology and teacher rewards for exceptional work.
Minnesota Public Radio also reported on Horner saying he didn’t think the governor could realistically address the issue in the tough budget time, but outlined a long-term vision of allowing high school students to take more college-level course work. He noted that the next governor’s unique opportunity for higher education reform exists as the University of Minnesota and MnSCU transition into new leadership.
The views that the candidates take, will affect BSU students. Spending will allow more facilities and equipment. It will also allow BSU to maintain their professors and continue majors.
Through the evaluations of professors, students will receive better educations. Recently the business department at BSU was awarded National Accreditation. This happened through PhD requirements and positive evaluations.
“I would have to say what students should be looking for when choosing candidates is their opinions on education, since we are currently students, said Senior Brian Ahlers. “That being said, graduation is right around the corner, and there will be a higher need of younger people needing jobs; I’m considering what each of their stances is in jobs and the economy.”
Students at BSU should know how to get informed about their candidates. Each candidate has a website that supplies information such as opinions on the issues, information about their background, ways to get involved, campaign news and ads, events and endorsements.
Students who are out of their precinct while attending BSU can apply for an absentee ballot. If students visit the Minnesota Secretary of State Web site, they will be able to register for an absentee ballot. This will allow them to cast their vote for the area they grew up in.
Moellering also added, “Students who live in any dorm besides Oak can vote at the John Glas Fieldhouse. Students who live in Oak must vote at Trinity Lutheran, which is just up the street. Student Senate will be working on a shuttle to help get students who live off-campus to the polls.”
Tom Horner is the Independent Party candidate for Minnesota Governor. Horner is a native Minnesotan, born and raised in Minneapolis where he graduated from University of St. Thomas. Picture taken from http://politicsinminnesota.com/2010-mn-governor-race/
well done, I guess I really dont have anything to comment about, other than saying nicely done.
ReplyDelete-erin