EDITORIAL: Getting rid of the 'gag rule'

UA elections will be better covered now that candidates are able to talk to the media. With the removal of the "gag rule," student government elections will now be less of a popularity contest. By talking to the media, candidates will be able to inform students about their stance on real issues. This preposterous rule has prohibited Undergraduate Assembly candidates from being quoted unless their remarks were made in a public forum. The "gag rule" was instituted to increase fairness, supposedly. But that is not how real elections are run. In presidential and congressional elections, the candidates are not forbidden to talk to the media. It would be absurd if presidential candidates were not allowed to get their message across in the media regarding the issues of the campaign. We will take full advantage of being able to talk with student government candidates in getting all of them to discuss real issues they will deal with in the UA. Students need to hear how these candidates feel about safety, student life, academics and facilities on campus. Without the gag rule, we can cover the elections more accurately and with more information. Students will no longer need to decide who to vote for based simply on campaign slogans. Instead of relying only on the annual Nominations and Elections Committee ad -- where candidates submit a photograph of themselves and a short blurb on whatever they'd like to say -- students will have the opportunity to get information on the candidates' positions on campus issues. We promise to provide that information fairly, giving all candidates chances to respond. More students might cast their ballots if they had a better idea of what their prospective representatives thought about campus issues. If they were able to make informed decisions, they might actually want to come out and vote. Getting rid of the "gag rule" will give student government elections more credibility and we hope, give students better government.