We haven’t heard that too often. Many Andover students are indifferent about giving their signature to prospective Co-Presidents.
Each year, pairs collect five hundred signatures over three days as part of their eligibility to run for Co-President. The task of collecting signatures may serve as a weeding-out process or a way for candidates to demonstrate their commitment to their campaign. Importantly, though, a five-hundred-signature requirement forces candidates to meet their voters. But when candidates or members of the student body fail to meaningfully connect with one another, this purpose is made obsolete.
Some students have noted that they are not even aware of a pair’s platform before giving their signature. This phenomenon begs the question: What’s the point of the signatures? Are students being nice, or do they not care about who our Co-Presidents are altogether?
Instead of mindlessly giving candidates their signatures, student voters ought to treat their decision in this campaigning stage as an opportunity to effect real change. Our signatures hold weight as endorsements that help propel a candidate to the next stage of the election process. A thorough understanding of the candidates, then, should inform student voters’ interactions with potential Co-Presidents. We must remain actively curious in our conversations with candidates, digging deeper to inquire about the feasibility of their initiatives or learn about the values that underpin their leadership. Our signatures matter, and we should respect our autonomy by making an effort to evaluate our candidates before deciding to provide our signature. Meanwhile, prospective co-presidents must view signatures not as checked boxes on a to-do list but as a way to establish a sense of trust with and truly engage with their voters.
Candidates have ample opportunities to connect with the student body. On the first voting day, pairs typically give brief speeches in Commons, and after the second round, they participate in a structured meet and greet. These events often receive moderate engagement. However, if students feel apathetic about endorsing candidates through their signatures, then perhaps there is more engagement to be made. The Co-Presidents only have the influence that we give them. That is, if we feel that their roles are inconsequential, then it is up to us to show up to their events, to get to know them, and to be invested in their initiatives. We owe it to ourselves and our presidents.
