The votes are in and tallied, and T.J. Schneider and Joe Darr are the new GSB president and vice president. The student body did not appear too enthused with two executive slates that did not differ on much, the low turnout numbers can attest to that. However, despite the lack of interest from the students, Schneider and Darr have a tough year ahead of them. Just ask current president Andy Tofilon, who faced plenty of challenges in a year of debilitating budget cuts.

Promises have been made. Student needs will be put first, the new executives have said. But, let’s be serious, what does that really mean? How is next year’s administration going to be more effective than this year’s when it comes to budget battles? All the lobbying in the world couldn’t get that 18.5 percent increase down, despite the empty promises of a GSB administration who wouldn’t budge for anything more than 9.9 percent.

A lot is going to be expected of Schneider and Darr. And if they want to be successful next year, things are going to have to change. First, the new administration must have a real plan. Vague promises of lower tuition, a safer campus and smaller classes mean nothing when it comes time for action. How exactly do they plan to do this?

Schneider and Darr need to learn from the mistakes of past GSB executives. They cannot focus on issues that are way over their heads. Tuition will likely go up again. Obviously, all the lobbying in the world doesn’t mean squat come budget-cut time. Instead of focusing all their time on a futile cause, why not work with students? Help them get scholarships and grants. Work with the members of the student body who don’t have full rides look at other financial options.

One of the main disappointments of GSB is their lack of preparing different plans of action. Instead of promising and vowing to fight tuition increases, let’s work to allow students to be able to deal with such increases. GSB should guide students to more financial options. That, arguably, is the real purpose of GSB.

And hopefully Schneider and Darr will work to change the image of GSB as a whole. How many people can honestly name their GSB representatives? And how many times do these representatives meet and talk with their constituents? How can they effectively represent who they are supposed to when a minute minority of campus voted them into office, and then are forgotten about? Schneider and Darr need to change this. GSB members must realize they are students like everyone else, and should begin to act as peers with the student body. Quite frankly, GSB needs to lighten up a bit.

The slate will not be wiped clean once Schneider and Darr take office. Problems will still remain. GSB needs more student input to effectively work for its constituents. They must work to create new plans of action. Small, obtainable goals win out versus futile struggles against the legislature.

Schneider and Darr, you’ve got your foot in the door. You’ve been voted into office. But now, it’s time to actually make a difference at this university. It won’t be easy and will require changes. To that, we wish you good luck.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Charlie Weaver, Omar Tesdell