Regional campuses could be left out of representation after election

A potential change on this year’s ballot could place regional campus students under their own representation in ASUSU.

Utah State Regional Campus and Distance Education students will be able to vote for all constitutional changes and positions in ASUSU this year. However, if changes to the constitution are made, RCDE students may have less of a reason to care about this election. With a change in campaigning rules, they will also have less of an opportunity for an informed vote.

Utah State University includes six regional campuses throughout Utah, making it possible for students that are unable to attend Logan’s main campus to get a degree from Utah State
University.

“This year, any RCDE student can vote for any executive council position as well as any senator in the college where their major is housed,” said Kirsten Frank, executive council vice president.

But if the changes are passed, on the day after elections, the RCDE students will no longer be represented by the ASUSU Logan campus officials, who they just helped vote into office.

“RCDE students would vote for RCDE representatives and not for main campus representatives,” said Jordan Hunt, executive council administrative assistant.

“So for this upcoming election, regional campus students can vote for ASUSU candidates but they will not represent regional students at all as of March 2 this year,” said Justin Watkins, RCDE vice president.

Candidates also have been instructed not to actively campaign on RCDE campuses. This has caused some controversy. Candidates feel unable to get their name out there and openly discuss their platforms.

“Here are 15,000 people who are voting and I have no way to reach them other than social media and friends,” said Hannah Blackburn, presidential candidate.

Some RCDE students have expressed concern over their own vote.

“I don’t know anything about their platforms,” said Brianna Whitley, a USU Brigham City regional campus student. “To vote for them would be like guessing on a test.”

Matt Skabelund, Katie Carter, Parker Jeppesen, Julia Stock, Jessica Jolley, Adison Pace, Victoria Hepworth and Joe Bagnes contributed to this report.