With the Government of the Student Body elections just a day away, hopefully many students will take the opportunity to vote. It is our duty as students to decide who will be the next president of GSB. Yet many students do not even know what GSB means, or what they do on campus. Some even feel like voting for GSB does not matter because it will not pertain to them, but everything GSB does pertains to us. After all, they are our government of the student body.

GSB funds a series of programs at Iowa State that have a positive impact on the students, staff and Ames community. Programs like RideShare (an organization that offers car pools), ASSET (which funds different social services in the Ames community) and Student Legal Services, which is funded entirely by GSB.

The Financial Counseling Clinic and Student Recreation Services, which manage the clubs and organizations at our university both fall under the management of GSB.

Nearly every student on our campus has probably been involved in at least one club or organization or used a GSB funded service. This should put voting for a new GSB president on your priorities list. Not voting can make just as big of an impact as voting can. Choosing not to vote means that you are not voicing what you want to see happen to your club or organization. Vote to show you care about the impact that the new incoming president will have on our university.

Voting is as simple as getting on your computer and typing in vote.iastate.edu. Many student life decisions impact GSB.  Any student that feels strongly about something they do not like on campus should be voting. Any student who cares about keeping something they love about campus the same should be doing their part as well. A lot can change in a year and to ensure that you are getting what you want for the four years you are here as a student.

Voting is essential.

Students love to complain when they disagree with something, or make a point to show where the university could have better accommodated them. Rather than complaining about issues that you don’t agree with, vote for the candidate that shares your views. Or, choose to run for a senator position in GSB, there are still plenty of seats that need to be filled. 

We should all be doing our research on both candidates. Hillary Kletscher and running mate Mike Hoefer have focused their campaign on the tuition freeze, GSB funding, campus wide recycling, tutoring and an ISU exchange site.

Khayree Fitten and running mate Gabe Walsh are focusing their campaign on providing free e-textbooks, need based scholarship and grants programs and developing a cabinet position exclusively designed to help clubs request funding.

Voting is easy and should take next to no time out of everyones busy schedules. Simply logging onto vote.iastate.edu will help you cast your vote and help you make a difference in your university. Voting is on Tuesday March 4 and Wednesday March 5, do not miss out on this chance to see that the issues that you are having at Iowa State are dealt with.

Take each candidate into consideration and make a decision that you, the students, see yourself benefitting from the most. It is part of GSB’s job to serve students and that would be very difficult if we do not vote and voice how they can serve us.