 "Photo: Dan Handing")
Ballots for the MoPIRG Reaffirmation were counted at approximately 10 p.m. on March 11, the last day of the election. Students voted that MoPIRG (Missouri Public Interest Research Group) will no longer be in effect at the STLCC-Meramec campus in the fall 2010 semester. According to the MoPIRG Election Report, the votes must be ratified by the Student Government Council (SGC) at the next meeting on March 23.
Students voted for the $7 fee students pay to MoPIRG at the time of class registration each semester to be removed from registration forms.
A total of 548 students voted in the election, equaling a 328 percent increase in voter turnout since the 2008 reaffirmation, in which less than one percent of the student body participated.
The number of students who voted for option one to maintain the current waived $7 fee on student registration forms was 105. The number of students who voted for a voluntary fee was 181. The number of students that voted for option three was 262.
Mike Roman, president of SGC, said he was pleased with the voter turnout.
“I was hoping for a 10 percent voter turnout increase since 2008,” he said, “But I’ll take 328 percent.”
The three option ballot had been a concern for the members of SGC, as it did not adhere to the ballot language provided by the Board of Trustees that called for only two options for reaffirmation. The decision to include the voluntary $7 option was upheld at the last SGC meeting on March 2.
“Student government was right for leaving option two on there,” said Roman. “With 181 people voting for [option two], it goes to show it is a valid option.”
Steven Vollenweider, president of NOpirg, the campus organization that promoted option three, said that the results are a victory for the campus.
“This is a large step toward the future of our college and hopefully we can continue with the services our campus truly needs,” Vollenweider said.
Roman said NOpirg’s success was a result of their extensive campaigning efforts.
“A lot of hard work went into this campaign,” Roman said. “NOpirg had a lot of people canvassing and I think that had a big effect.”
Vollenwieder and Sarah Clader, MoPIRG campus organizer, canvassed the Meramec campus for 14 hours the days of the election.
“Electioneering was difficult at times, but it was worth it to inform the student body of the way their money is being used,” said Vollenweider.
7 comments
This truly is a victory, for it is an example of our students expressing their ability to choose how their money is spent.
From a nonpartisan perspective, I thank the administration of Meramec for providing such an equal opportunity referendum.