Associating Student Government with Animal Farm (in BOTH the literal and Orwellian sense) was definitely not on my 2025 bingo card. Before we go any further, let me be clear: this is not a piece telling you who you should have voted for and why. I don’t think my personal preference (assuming I have one in the first place) adds anything of value to your Stork timeline. Nor am I subtly encouraging you to abstain from voting in the future – participation is crucial because it is our primary means of materialising our needs and collaborating effectively with the administration.
Now that my disclaimer is out of the way, I would much rather occupy your time by elaborating on my – admittedly dramatic – opening statement.
Since my first year at this university (I am now in my third), I have never run for student government; instead, I have observed my classmates and friends do so with varying degrees of success. This year, once again, our four political animals were locked in a battle for the chance to better the student experience. However, the entire campaign race felt more like a high-production publicity stunt rather than an actual election.
I have to admit, it is entertaining to watch groups use the colloquial “G.O.A.T.” abbreviation, CharliXCX’s Brat font, Wordle grids, and the ‘guy with the sign’ to promote themselves. But when you compare the ratio of “quirky” posts to proposal carousels, it’s hard not to sigh at the realisation that students seem more aware of which group has the best meme game than which one has the most innovative – or even remotely feasible – plans. Beyond the glossy photoshoots and passive-aggressive shade towards other groups, if you take the time to scroll through the actual proposals, you will notice a consistent pattern: a flood of buzzwords like inclusivity, transparency, and, an inexplicably intense obsession with the Spring Ball (who knew it was SUCH a defining issue for the IE community?!).
This focus on events and parties is – of course – not irrelevant or unimportant; we all want to have fun, after all. But when you compare the effort put into creating or reviving balls and dinners to, say, advocating for fairer policies on excused absences or standardising proctoring methods across courses and bachelor’s degrees, it is like comparing a master’s thesis to the back of a cereal box.
As much as it pains me to say this, if we’re still demanding the same changes I saw in my first year, the problem is not who is running for office; it’s with the voters as well.
In a university where we are all one step away from entering the real world – with some students even eyeing careers in politics – it is disheartening to see student government elections resemble more a high school popularity contest than a serious policy debate. Granted, the stakes (and capabilities of the groups before and during time in office) are vastly different, but the presence of vote-bribing and grandiose yet hollow rhetoric certainly adds a fun little dollop of realism. But when all is said and done, most of us are going to vote for the team with the trendiest marketing or the one that happens to include most of our friends and acquaintances.
I have to give credit where credit is due: student government elections have absolutely nailed the concept of political dealignment. “Friendship factor” aside, most students wouldn’t know where to cast their votes, as every group seems to be offering a reworded version of the same recycled proposals from previous years. The proposals themselves often feel too good to be true. Sifting through them, only a handful seem realistic and thought-out, not to mention original. But here’s the kicker – I can’t even blame the candidates for that. As much as it pains me to say this, if we’re still demanding the same changes I saw in my first year, the problem is not who is running for office; it’s with the voters as well.
Why is nothing changing?
Because the system benefits those playing the game. The unspoken rules are established, and the shots are fired. If only one team pivoted from memes to manifestos, they would just be doomed from the start. Unless every campaign prioritises substantial proposals over social media clout, no group will take the risk, and the cycle will perpetuate.
In the end, popularity is the name of the game. Whether it is a constructive and effective approach for the “betterment of the student experience” is not for me to judge – or rather, it is for the winner of the election to change my mind about it. At least IE can say that it is indeed driving innovation: where else can you spot a goat, a phoenix, an octopus, & a Pomeranian dog fighting for dominance in the same place?
Featured image provided by IEU Student Government LinkedIn.
