Election Issues Survey: What Bothers Students?

Election Issues Survey: What Bothers Students?

School Election Survey

The major findings of a survey conducted by the student senate committee, which was designed to determine the major issues of an upcoming student election.

Mello, Michael

Hudson, Tracy

Mello, Michael and Tracy Hudson. "What Bothers Students." The           Bullet, February 13, 1979.

HIST 298, University of Mary Washington

1979-02-13

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Fredericksburg, VA

      A Student Senate Committee poll indicates that the students of MWC still favor the option of 23 hour visitation, that they would like to see a student member on the BOV, and that student-faculty relations could be better.

        The survey, conducted by the Coordinating Committee of the Senate, was designed to determine what the student body feels the major issues should be in the upcoming SA elections. Several Committee members expressed hope that their findings will set the tone for the platforms and debate in the February elections for major SA positions.

       The major findings of the poll were:

• 77% of those responding to the survey indicated that the drive for the option of 23 hour visitation should be continued. Of that 77%, 43% were “strongly” in favor of keeping extended visitation as a goal for the Student Association.
• 92% of the respondents indicated that the Student Lobby should continue its efforts to secure student representatives on the BOV. 54% of the 92% had a “strong” opinion on this matter.
• 73% of those responding to the survey indicated that they had voiced their needs and desires to their Senate representatives. 76% responded, 26% “strongly,” that there is not effective communication between the Administration and the students. 55% of the respondents felt that the SA is effective in voicing their needs and desires. But 76% said that the MWC Administration is not responsive to the needs of the student body as articulated through the SA. This same 76% favors the creation of a body within SA Senate to handle student complaints that are not academically-oriented.
• 72% indicated that their major concerns with regard to campus life were related to academics.
• 93% of the respondents feel that there is a need for more open student body meetings.
• 74% responded that they do not feel that student leaders have an influence on the operation of the dining hall.
• 91% of those responding to the survey said that the SA should work to gain student employment opportunities in the C-Shoppe, College Bookstore, and Campus Police.
• 72% responded that they had “no opinion” on whether the office of Day Student President had been effective in articulation the sentiments of MWC’s commuting students.
• 75% indicated that the Student Activities Fee should be used to bring larger concerts to MWC. 67% expressed a desire to see more funds used to sponsor weekend entertainment in the C-Shoppe.
• 70% of the respondents indicated that the Class Council should not be required to pay Maintenance for setting up before and cleaning up after events in ACL.
• 50% had “no opinion” on whether or not the department representatives were effective academically. 88% indicated that their department reps should be more aware of what their job entails.
• 92% indicated that they would like to see better student/faculty relations.
• 79% felt that a Student Advisory Board is needed to provide representation for students accused of Honor Code violations.
• 81% indicated that the faculty sufficiently understands and supports the Honor System.

        The final question labeled “Your favorite bitch” encouraged respondents to raise any complaints not covered in previous questions. The most frequent responses to this question were: the possibility of instituting a meal plan should be pursued; the effectiveness and competency of the Campus Police should be investigated; the practice of inspecting the books of students leaving the library should be discontinued as contrary to the Honor Code.

        The survey was conducted in the form of a random sample of 345 students. Committee members stress the validity of sample polls in determining mass trends and public opinion.

Newspaper

Michael Lohr