Perspective Who’s Ready to Work?

From the beginning of this election to a week after the results were announced, dialogue regarding the lack of candidates and lack of campaign pageantry is still being discussed. Yes, less than one percent of students wrote in two relatively unknown candidates, but before you attribute that to Will and me, everyone should note that there were unknown write-in candidates for HUSA last year and in many years previous, they were just not announced. The truth is, what ensued this election season might have been uncharacteristic of election seasons of the past, but hopefully the results of student government will be uncharacteristic as well.

Ever since Election Day, I have found myself in meeting after meeting, developing our application process, meeting with administrators, and taking steps to initialize our platform because election season is OVER. Yes, less than one percent of students chose the write-ins, whether their reason be for comic relief or genuine support, but what about the 2,000-plus students who chose to be a part of the "Turning Point" and support Will and me? To me, 2,000 students seems like much more of a movement than 100. If election season taught us anything it's that there is work to be done, so I would appreciate it if we don't have a hangover from election season like every other year, and student leaders, student news outlets and students in general begin thinking of solutions to problems as opposed to restating them.

I also disagree with the notion that the write-in candidates exposed the weaknesses of our platform. Honestly, I thought the fact that we were running unopposed would force people to take a closer look at our platform and give us constructive criticism to build on it, but that assumption of mine proved too optimistic. Not once do I recall any of the, "write-in candidates," asking us a question at a speakout, maybe they were too busy planning their Election Day write-in campaign, if they were serious. The truth is, the only thing still giving the write-in candidates any attention is The Hilltop.  The rest of us, including the 2,000 plus supporters of the "Turning Point" campaign are actually ready work to make that "Turning Point" happen, and I would appreciate it if "The Daily Student Voice of Howard University" would work towards that as well.

I'm not going to lie and say things aren't in a destitute state in student government, but we need to realize this is an occurrence that is across the board. Yesterday for example, I asked a friend if she had read yesterday's editorial she replied, "I've only picked up two Hilltop's in my life." Major student-led institutions, including student government and The Hilltop are seeing a major decline in support and rise in apathy. Just like there were unknown write-in candidates, Roy Montgomery was in the process of starting another school newspaper called The Bison Times. Students are tired of a student government that has robust election season but produces subpar results. They are tired of the bickering and cheap shots they read about; students are ready for solutions. While we bicker about write-in candidates and other irrelevant issues, guess what? Someone just got purged, another student was wronged by a professor and while we continue to wait, more students suffer. Where is the leadership??  As your HUSA President- elect, I offer an invitation to those who, like me, are tired of the games and are ready to work!! Who's with me?!? The "Turning Point" we seek is in no one's hands but ours.

Brandon Harris
sophomore political science major