Students need to ensure the right people are speaking on their behalf by being aware of the upcoming Student Association elections.

SA elections will be March 24 and 25. Walking through the Martin Luther King Jr. Commons in fall, I saw Dillon Domke, now the SA Senate speaker, promoting elections and asking for votes. That was the first time I heard about SA Senate elections. It may have been because I was a transfer student, but I think it’s safe to say the advertising aspect of elections was poor.

It’s not just SA’s job to advertise: Students need to look out for SA ads that have the times, dates and locations of the electoral debate and election. We need to ensure the right people are making the right decisions for students.

“NIU’s enrollment sits at 21,138, but only about 750 students voted in Tuesday and Wednesday’s election,” according to a Sept. 26, 2013, Northern Star article.

Susie Richards, who was election commissioner in the fall and is in that role this semester, wants to see a voter turnout of about 3,000 students.

Richards said the biggest step is advertising and marketing. Public affairs director James Forman is working with Richards on upping the ads. Forman plans on posting fliers all over campus, and in March ads will be posted on the buses and information will be posted online.

If SA really wants a large voter turnout it should have had those bus ads up sooner, especially with so many students using the buses because of the cold weather. Posting fliers is a good idea, but more should be done. Executive members should be involved. They should be walking around campus, promoting the elections and handing out those fliers. They need to ensure the legacy they leave behind is taken care of; it shouldn’t be left with a stranger.

SA has also sent out mass emails to student organizations and Greek houses, letting those leaders know they are eligible to become an SA executive member.

Another thing Richards is doing which was done in past semesters is hosting an executive debate. Richards wants students to attend the 7 p.m. March 19 event in the Holmes Student Center’s Capital Room.

“[Students can] come to the debate and hear the candidates and … their answers to questions about what they want to change or the ideas they have for the positions they are running for,” Richards said. “Hopefully this will help with their decisions.”

Student attendance at the debate is vital. This is how students can weed out the wannabees from the true leaders, the ones who will make a difference.

Showing up and voting is important, but it is vital we know who it is we are voting for. Please, don’t show up and vote for the person with a cool name. Look at what they want to do.

Don’t forget SA is in control of student activity fees. SA is in charge of a part of our tuition, so be in control of where that money goes by voting.