EDITORIAL: Cast your UA vote intelligently

Don't allow another single-issue election like last year's IFC funding-focused race. When the administration cracked down on illegal door charging last year, the InterFraternity and Panhellenic councils e-mailed their member chapters, urging them to vote for Greek candidates expressly to secure funds for Greek events. "This is our best opportunity to receive party funding," then-IFC President Matt Baker wrote. "So get out there and vote." Twenty percent of eligible voters turned out to cast ballots, and 20 Greek affiliates won seats on the 33-membered body. The result: a largely single-issue UA that was not representative of the general student population. Members of fraternities and sororities comprise only about one-third of all Penn undergraduates. The supreme accomplishment of the outgoing UA was a vote to allocate $30,000 to the IFC. This move, however, takes away funds from other organizations. Vote "yes" tomorrow or Wednesday on the referendum to funnel that money instead into student-wide Student Activities Council events, such as Spring Fling and Connaissance lectures. Also, when you cast your ballot, consider the events that followed last year's election. This year's scenario is startlingly similar, with Greeks making up at least three-fifths of the UA candidates. Don't vote for a candidate based on whether or not he or she is Greek. Look for students that can advocate issues you think are important. Representatives should be good leaders, active in University life and passionate about campus issues. And they should be willing to prioritize the UA over all their other activities. Missing meetings for rush events is not acceptable. It's really too late to complain about the performance of the outgoing UA. But a vote this week could make a difference in the upcoming year. So take time to learn about the candidates. Talk to them today at "Get Out the Vote" on College Green. And make an intelligent choice.