Responsibility of all to check candidates

In previous years, compulsory background checks have not been a part of SGA elections. Certainly, I would agree that in light of recent revelations, the next Election Committee would do well to reconsider this stance. However, the responsibility of providing information to our students on this campus does not fall upon the shoulders of the Election Committee alone.

If last year's Committee failed the students by not digging deeper, so too were the students failed by opposing candidates, myself included. Had this past election been a national, state, or even local one, Darwin Butler's opposing ticket would have gained and publicized his criminal record, regardless of its relevance, in order to make easy work for him. In this case, such action would hardly have been mudslinging, and since the campaigns had already turned hostile early on, I do wish that someone would have done something more appropriate than refuse to share weenies with him.

Let The Current recognize its own shortcomings in this matter as well. An excellent paper often awarded for its journalism has even less excuse than student leadership to fail in providing relevant information to the campus which it serves. Can a newspaper lounge about and wait for information to be delivered in a purloined letter served on a silver platter? A paper of the quality and resource as The Current should hardly have to wait for information of this magnitude to be volunteered; they, too, snoozed through this one.

Even after four years in Student Government, I also failed to do my homework. Like most students, I was too wrapped up in my own little world of classes, work, family, and socializing. Harried, we all rushed to and fro while this slipped by right under our collective nose. Few tried to inform themselves, fewer still voted in an informed manner, and the majority of votes which were cast fell along lines sadly drawn not by wisdom or informed choice, but by racial tension. Ultimately, in this instance we the students failed ourselves.

My point here is not to criticize Darwin. Rather, I am addressing the matter of informed choice, which requires effort. No one bothered to inform the students, but we didn't try very hard to inform ourselves either. Darwin didn't tell us he stole that credit card, but who bothered to ask? Maybe you don't like what you're now finding out about your SGA President, but face it people, we were all caught asleep at the wheel.

-Michael Rankins

Media is not to blame for history checks

I have read, over the last couple of issues, a lot of different opinions about who is responsible for background checks. I agree that this is an embarrassment to this school. It is important, though, that we do not over react. Often when struck with a situation like this, history shows that we do over react. I for one do not feel that the media should do the background checks. This could lead to a witch hunt against future candidates. I hope this situation will not occur again, but I suggest we use caution. Also keep in mind that through history a number of people that we now consider heroes were at one time considered criminals. I for one do feel that an apology is owed to this institution and the student body as a whole. Do not judge all by the actions of one.

-Tom Armstrong

UM-St. Louis has made huge strides during the past several years. Among other things, the progress includes on-campus apartments for students, a parking garage, a student center, a softball stadium, and there will soon be a performing arts theater. UM-St. Louis has become a "real University." There is one more giant leap the University needs to make. UM-St. Louis should make a serious commitment to college athletics with the ultimate goal of becoming a NCAA Division I institution. Obviously this costs money, but it is money well spent. Division I sports can give the University national recognition. They also give students something concrete to identify with and feel proud of. In addition, division I athletics keep alumni in closer contact with the University which can result in larger dollar donations to the University.

Whether or not the University does actually seek Division I status, the athletic facilities should be improved. The baseball field and tennis courts need serious work. If the University does become a Division I school, it would have to add one more men's sport. It should add track and build a track facility. A track would add more life to the campus because it would be used all year round by students, student-athletes, faculty, staff and residents around UM-St. Louis. There are few Universities around the country that do not have a running track regardless of whether or not they have a track team.

UM-St. Louis is similar to schools such as Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Texas-San Antonio, North Carolina-Charlotte, Missouri-Kansas City, California-Irvine, and Illinois-Chicago in that they are all branch, commuter schools. All of these schools compete on the Division I level and some of them have had success on that level. There may be reservations because St. Louis University has Division I sports and there is only so much fan interest that can be spread around town between professional and college athletics. However, cities such as Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Houston each have professional sports teams and more than one university competing on the Division I level.

The UM-St. Louis men's basketball team draws around 400 people to its home games so it may seem ridiculous to attempt to move up to Division I. However, the reality is that there is little interest in NCAA Division II sports. There is tremendous interest in Division I sports and that interest seems to grow every year. I would argue that Division II scholarship sports may soon be a thing of the past. So where would Division I men's and women's basketball teams play their games? St. Charles is completing an arena that holds around 11,000 people. This is the ideal size for college basketball and especially men's college basketball. Women's college basketball has been drawing large crowds at some universities around the country also. The drawback may be that it is far from campus. However, most of the UM-St. Louis students do not live on campus and if teams are competitive, people will show up to watch them play.

-Jerry Gunther -->