With the UTSU elections coming up in late March, you may be beginning to see representatives interrupting your lectures or lunch lines for a brief spiel on how and why to vote for them. You may also be wondering why you should vote at all. After all, the average U of T commuter probably spends about 30-40 hours per week on campus – closer to 168 during exams. Why should you be invested in the politics of your home away from home?
Voting can be a very time-consuming process. Reports suggest that it may take up to five minutes to research the basic platforms of each of the candidates, and another two to seven minutes to actually vote, depending on if ROSI is being a bitch or not and if you’ve recently received a new Snapchat that you absolutely have to respond to first.
In addition, your vote probably won’t have any sway, because there are some 60,000 other UofT students also voting who probably know a hell of a lot more about politics than you do. Each and every one of these students knows exactly what each candidate wants and who would be the best representative for the UTSU. As you look among your fellow students, you will probably realize that the vast majority of these have advanced experience in politics and will be able to vote for the candidate that would serve your interests best.
So the UTSU elections probably won’t affect you, they take valuable time away from binge watching House of Cards, and your vote wouldn’t have any impact.
Given all that, I’m not too sure I want you to vote anymore. Seriously, just… just go. And just remember if you don’t vote and a premed student who favours grad needs over undergrad needs gets elected, or if you don’t know one winner from the other, make sure to complain about it.
