This year's Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) presidential election is a stunning example of how dirty politics really is - from small community elections to our nation's pending presidential race. Before the results were revealed late Friday evening, it seemed inevitable that the boys in blue would be taking their seats in BC's "oval office." Phil Dumontet and Mike Sokolowski, two Grade A BC citizens with proper experience and credentials for the job(s), instead got worked over by a system so full of red tape and administrative apathy that good was unable to rightfully prevail. And the worst part of all? The BC administration seems more than content in condoning these political games that did in the Phil and Soko campaign.
Maybe the administration's indifference to the issue is illustrative of how it perceives the UGBC president and vice president. All who are or have been involved in the UGBC will have to forgive me for what I'm about to say. The truth may hurt, but it's time to face reality: The UGBC doesn't do much. The one variable every school year is who performs at our spring concert. Otherwise, life at BC seems pretty cyclical to me. Same [explative], different year.
If the president and vice president of the UGBC were given enough power to make worthwhile changes within the BC student community, then I believe the administration would actually be concerned about whether or not a fair election had been held this past week.
Now, I don't want to completely bash the UGBC, as there is a lot of legwork behind the scenes that goes into the organization, implementation, and management of many worthwhile events on campus - many of which are sadly attended by small groups of people from within the BC community. I give the organization a lot of credit for those events that go unnoticed and slip through the cracks.
That being said, I don't believe an Obama-esque "change we can believe in" UGBC presidential campaign is reasonable given the bureaucratic organization of the BC administration. The president and vice president seem to be figureheads that chase after one thing: a good spring concert. It seems that in the eyes of the student body, if nothing changes from one year to the next, and a good band is secured to play Conte Forum, it's been a good year.
Although 42 percent of our undergraduate population did vote this year, I would be willing to bet that a sizeable portion of the remaining 58 percent chose not to vote because they believe it makes little difference whom is in office. Is it apathy? One might argue yes. But those who didn't vote might be on to something. It really does seem to make little difference whom holds office.
When I come back to the Heights for my final two semesters this fall, I won't be surprised if the only change I witness is whisperings of rumored performers that may grace the ground level of Conte for a concert that the University pays too much for. As little power as these UGBC officials really get, I wish that those elected would be individuals who embody the values that BC prides itself on: in particular, being men for others.
To Phil and Soko, I wish you the best and can only offer you my condolences for this injustice.
Joe Decarle is a junior in the Carroll School of Management.
2008 Woodie Awards
