For the first time in 20 years, students will have the chance to directly affect how things run in the Government of the Student Body. A new constitution is in the works and we — the students — must have a voice in deciding if it’s best for us.

The new constitution is being written by the Constitutional Convention members. They’ve held countless meetings, and few students have showed interest yet in the writing process. They have now drafted a constitution and it will be voted on shortly by the student body.

The GSB Constitution is now 12 pages long. The new version is half that with some tweaks here and there, and some considerable changes.

But there is a snag. Close to 5,000 students need to vote the constitution up or down for the election to be valid or for the year-long convention to mean anything. It takes a simple majority, about 2,500 students, to ratify the constitution. Only about 1,900 students voted in the last GSB election. Increasing voter turnout on this campus could be tough.

Members of the Constitutional Convention are earnestly trying to find ways to bring the vote to the students. There may be chances to vote in the resident hall food-service lines. There may be a booth at Veishea. The election is expected to be held in mid-April over an entire week, just so everybody gets a chance to vote.

So here’s a novel idea: Vote.

No excuses.

When mid-April comes around, get out your fee card and vote.

If you’ve got a sore foot on Monday, vote on Tuesday.

If you’re in trouble with the law on Tuesday, vote on Wednesday.

If you have an itchy leg on Wednesday, vote on Thursday.

If you’re stone drunk on Thursday, vote on Friday.

And if you’re dead on Friday, well, you’re excused.

Why is this election so important? Considerable changes in the constitution are in mind. Some of those changes include:

* The vice president will no longer chair the Senate meetings. Instead, the Senate will chose a speaker of the Senate from the Senate members. The speaker will lead and administer the affairs of the legislature for a one-year term.

* After the general election, outgoing Senate officers will organize and conduct an orientation session for incoming officers.

* If, after five regular days, the president has not signed or vetoed a bill, it will automatically become law. If it is vetoed within five days, the bill will be returned to the Senate with the president’s objection at the next session for reconsideration.

* A rules committee will be established to make sure all bills are cohesive to constitutional law.

* Instead of choosing to vote for a residence or specialty seat on election day, students may designate voting preference earlier. This choice may be changed at any time during the year. Such ways of helping promote this early designation would be by touch tone when students register for classes.

* In the new draft, students will have a say about who fills the representative positions on the student fees committee.

* And most importantly is the last article, “Article VIII, Powers of the Student Body.” In this article, for better or worse, the students retain absolute authority over their government. If they don’t like how things are going, they can change it.

Go vote. It’s your right as a citizen in a democracy.

It’s your duty to future Iowa State students.

After all, the last time the GSB Constitution was re-written was 20 years ago. Some of us were but a twinkle in the womb, then. Other of us were not.

Regardless, it’s time for some revision.

Regardless, you should vote.

For anyone who would like to provide additional input on the new draft of the constitution, or has any ideas or questions, feel free to e-mail Jamey Hansen, Constitutional Committee Chair at [email protected].