So today at the great University of Nebraska-Lincoln are ASUN elections. I think that stands for Association of Students at the University of Nebraska or something like that, but I'm not entirely sure. Basically, it's just glorified student government.
But apparently, it's kind of a big deal. I guess this is the first year with a big multi-party campaign, and the parties have been going at it since second semester started. You can't go anywhere on campus without seeing something emblazoned with Renew, N Vision, or Fusion (the 3 parties). There's been free t-shirts, keggers (yes, free beer), debates, interviews in the Daily Nebraskan (school newspaper), DailyER Nebrakan (Onion-esque school newspaper), and basically everything else designed to get attention and support from the student body. Like right now, I have a giant "S" in my window because a girl on my floor is running with N Vision and wanted to spell it out in our windows. Am I going to vote for them? Probably not, but hey, it's whatever. "FUSION" is spelled out on the floor above us.
And today, being election day, is crazier than ever. People from the parties are out all over campus in a last ditch effort to bribe people into voting for them. I've got candy from one party, and I've seen all three of them with tables set up outside the union giving out hotdogs, nachos, and donuts and hot chocolate (all free, of course). I think the hot chocolate would be a bit more popular if it wasn't like 40 degrees out, but they get points for trying.
And throughout all of this is the question, does it really even matter? I just found out last night who the current ASUN president is, so how much of an impact do they really have on UNL? I'm gonna vote and I've been telling everyone else to because I think it's important and all that, but it'll be really interesting to see if we ever hear about Renew or Fusion or N Vision or whoever wins after this week is over.
Cheers.
