No need for liberty or death, just give me a fair election – The Arkansas Traveler
Home > Columns > Inside Looking Out > No need for liberty or death, just give me a fair election

No need for liberty or death, just give me a fair election

By • March 10th, 2010 • 12:03 am.

By: Bailey Elise McBride

It was in March of 1774 that Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.  When he arrived at Richmond’s St. John’s Church, Henry probably did not expect to give a speech that would resonate through generations to come because of its power and rhetoric – Henry just knew what he was doing was the right thing to do. Despite the fact that it was against popular opinion, Henry spoke the truth to compel his fellow delegates to vote to put Virginia into a stance of defense, and was willing to accept the consequences for his words and actions.

Although I am definitely no Patrick Henry, I recently faced a tough choice in which popular opinion and the right thing to do were in opposition.  My issue was whether to file an election complaint against a candidate for ASG president who had been openly campaigning and mudslinging, when he was unable to even officially announce his candidacy until March 28 at noon, nearly a month away.

It was a tough choice. Could I put my integrity and objectivity as News Editor at stake to do what was right and protect the right of other students planning to run? It is important to prevent others from being unknowingly punished by a rumor mill they can’t even technically defend themselves against yet, especially when the rumors being spread are blatantly false, but, as a member of the media, it seems equally important to just stay out of the ASG’s business and report whatever happens.

Already, this year’s election is getting out of hand.  Flagrant and unscrupulous banter from certain candidates, who are not even official candidates yet, has already brought both individuals and even Greek houses into conflict over how to handle the situation at hand.  Out of respect for the ASG, however, we have not printed these rumors and have waited to cover the election until official campaigns can be announced.

It is unfair to make blanket statements  blaming all potential candidates or the ASG for the embarassing and inappropriate behavior of some among their ranks.  However, the actions I have observed and the numerous violations I have heard about, and the lack of action by the ASG elections committee to address serious concerns, must be taken into account as the election draws closer and closer.

In the end, I filed an election complaint because it was the right thing to do, and because the person against whom I filed it acted innappropriately.  The others who joined me in filing election complaints at the same time would probably agree with this statement and that this candidate’s actions were out of line.

Unfortunately, the ASG Elections Committee did not agree with us.  Again, the ASG fails to take action when setting a strong precedent and example seem so important.

Not only did they not agree with us, however, they decided to notify both the candidate in question and those of us who filed election complaints in the same e-mail, taking away any chance I might have had at objectivity when The Traveler interviews and endorses candidates election week.

This week, the fraternity of the candidate I questioned denied a request from others planning to run to come speak at their house based on the fact that they  would be voting 100 percent for him.

All together, it seems that, so far, this election is coming down to a petty rumor mill, with all the dirt coming from one side.

Frankly, if this is what we have to look forward to next year in the ASG, I will be glad to no longer serve as our News Editor.

For those who might be at Greek houses that will not accept all candidates, you can rest assured that we at The Traveler will continue to report fair and objective accounts of what is going on. We will conduct unbiased interviews of the candidates, providing you with the answers to the tough questions that might not get asked anyplace else.  And, finally, we will endorse a candidate based on a serious consideration of all the facts, not just rumors.

We will continue to hold up our obligation as the newspaper of the UA campus, and will wait hopefully for the ASG to fullfill theirs.

Bailey Elise McBride is the News Editor of The Arkansas Traveler. Her column appears monthly. Her opinions in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board.

  • mmcloud

    I am in a Greek House that will be letting both candidates come and speak, giving fair opportunity for both. BUT, one of the candidates (and it NOT the one you turned in to the elections committee) has already come to my house and asked to speak to us, not only that he asked that we make and hang a banner outside stating that we support him. If that is not illegal campaigning then I don't know what is. It seems to me that you have some unethical issues, you need to resolve. I fully support the person you obviously oppose and plan on getting my GREEK house behind him.

  • An_Ven

    First, I would like to remind everyone that this article is the opinion of Bailey Elise McBride, whose opinion does not mean much in my book.
    Second, I would like to point out that you have never even met this candidate that you are writing about. If you actually knew him, you would have nothing negative to say about him.
    I would also like to say that your 'complaint' filed against him was disregarded by the ASG Elections Committee not because they failed to take action, but because the complaint itself held no substance. I think these so called 'complaints' being filed against him just show that the other side is scared -and they should be ;D. Who wouldn't want to support a candidate who just spent his Christmas helping orphans in Africa?
    This candidate has proved himself capable over and over again through countless different organizations and leadership roles. He succeeds in everything he does and I will be shocked if this election proves anything different. So keep filing your empty complaints, nothing you say or do can change the fact that he is an awesome and respectable candidate for this position.
    And props to his fraternity for standing behind him in this election. I think it says a lot about their brotherhood.
    I would also like to say that I spend a great deal of time with this candidate and he has never ONCE said anything negative about any other candidate. So the “petty rumor mill” and “mudslinging” that you write about must coming from the candidate you support.
    I'm sure you already know this, but your candidate has called my house and asked to come speak to us about voting for him. I would call that early campaigning, wouldn't you?
    We are allowing him to come and speak, but you can rest assured that I will do everything in my power to make sure all of my sisters know which candidate truly deserves their votes.
    And just for the record, I too, will be glad for you to no longer serve as our News Editor.

  • Silence Dogood

    Give me Liberty or give me death…..or a real writer

    Bailey,

    I have two words for you:

    BERT SKULA

    Have a nice day

  • jdw005

    I think some perspective is needed with this issue.

    First off, ASG is an administrative body, with little real responsibility and even less respectability. Secondly, voter turnout for ASG elections is always low, normally below 25%.
    Third, this is the most controversial article I have ever seen in the Traveller and this will be its fourth comment.

    No one cares.

  • ConcernedStudent111

    I'm failing to see how helping orphans in Africa, while totally respectable, would make somebody a good ASG President. And just because someone is perceived as a “nice guy” also is not a sufficient qualification. ASG is very closely intertwined with the interworkings and policymaking of the university, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. To serve successfully as a strong and positive representative of the student body requires much more than simply being a pleasant person. It requires institutional knowledge. It requires a significant amount of experience. Again, whether you choose to ackowledge it or not, this is required for the students to be a legitimate voice for the student body. I think it's very clear that a certain of the candidates lacks the necessary experience and knowledge, by his own admission no less. I would urge everyone to look at who would best serve the entire student body. Greek affiliation should play no part WHATSOEVER in your decision. Base it on qualification. Base it on policy. Base it on which candidate is most prepared to hold the office for which they are running. We need a president. Not merely someone to sit behind a desk.

  • notpatrickhenry

    Great Reporting Ms. McBride. I hope your next article will expose the candidate's sex tape. I am sure he hasn't paid his taxes. He probably took bribes too, right?
    This article is completely false. It is shameful, wrong, and a pitiful attempt to slander a good man's name. It is interesting that this paper would even have the nerve to publish this when it borders libel. At a minimum, it is just pure mean spirited. The truest statement in this article “I am definitely no Patrick Henry.” Now, I hope you have the courage to eat crow and extend your sincere apology. The traveler and the author owe the candidate a written apology.

  • zavoottdmorri

    “Could I put my integrity and objectivity as News Editor at stake to do what was right and protect the right of other students planning to run?”

    “I filed an election complaint because it was the right thing to do…”

    After referencing the story of Patrick Henry, this is what you apply it to? A failed complaint in ASG elections? I honestly dont follow ASG anything because as jwd05 points out, “No one cares.” But it is clear that like a child wronged by a sibling, You are really stretching to make it seem like you have the moral high ground. I would say from the article and the comments, if I find out who you are talking about then that is who I will vote for. I've been here for 5 years now and I've never voted in ASG. What a stupid article.

  • ActualConcernedStudent

    I wonder who has been feeding Ms. Mcbride all of these lies. I also wonder how a comment from “Concerned-Student111″, which I cannot seem to find under this article, which is supposedly “from UAtrav.com”, happened to make it to print over all of the other actual comments on this article. Sounds like someone has a borderline “under-the-table” relationship with the traveler, or at least it seems so after viewing this completely ridiculous article, and the “comment” that made it to print. The only campaign violation I see is current campus powers getting into bed with the campus media to eliminate competition. Now it even seems certain campus advisors/staff are jumping into that same bed. I can only hope Gearhart catches wind of all this under-handedness, and in turn lives up to his motto of “Students First” rather than “familiar ASG friends first”, before its too late. I apologize for the bad grammar, but I figure this comment wont make it to print either so I dont have to worry about it.