Criticism is easy to give, but can be very hard to receive. Our lives exist in glass houses where uncommon things happen to uncommon people.

For example, how often do you find yourself crediting your problems to anyone other than yourself? It’s easy to say that one’s woes are the result of the system when actually the system involves everyone, including you.

With this week’s election activities on campus, the double standard is more evident than ever. GSB hopefuls are vying for a job that invites a terrible amount of scrutiny and criticism. Yet once elected, most seem surprised to be in the spotlight — or out of it.

When Dan Mangan was president, many said he needed to be impeached. Do you remember? To some, he was not worthy of the office he held and many thought someone would do better.

The result? Another election took place and Adam Gold was chosen.

Again, to some, he is not worthy of his office and many people think someone else could do better.

This week, someone else will be chosen, and the chair hasn’t had time to get cold yet.

Is this a vicious circle?

No. It’s just another election with new promises and a fresh outlook. Who knows exactly how the new president will be? I’ll wager that, for the most part, it shouldn’t really matter.

No one person can speak for the entire student body. There are too many different minds for it to be possible.

This is why it is so important that the voice of the students is composed only of the students themselves.

Without the efforts of the students, criticism has no hold on this campus. I am reluctant to hear criticism from those who blame Gold for their problems when it is not his campus alone.

It may be cliche, but the students are the ones who make this school what it is, and we choose leaders to represent our beliefs. They are not there to establish our beliefs or create new ones.

Because of this, one shouldn’t be so disappointed in whoever is chosen as next year’s GSB president, vice-president or senator. The work they do is a reflection of you, the students.

I also want every slate to know the school and the variety of student groups (i.e.: the Daily) do not intentionally attack GSB for fun. If it is done, it is done first and foremost to inform the students about their government. A secondary reason would include a hope that a change would take place.

I find it ironic that with all of the criticism Adam Gold has received, I can’t seem to recall him ever writing a letter to the editor in support of his position. In fact, very few senators have written to the Daily to share their points of view.

It’s not easy being a student representative and these representatives let us know why. Improvements can’t be made through silence.

I ask those who are running not to make promises for change, but instead to make concerted efforts to improve what already exists.

The world cannot be changed in a day or even in a school year, but it can be made better.

Any student who chooses to throw stones may do so only after all the facts can be seen.

Everyone else may be silent. The world is not yours to criticize.

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John Mullen is a senior in liberal studies from Waterloo. He is opinion editor of the Daily.