Favoritism Possibly Plays A Role In Appointed Offices at Utah State
Marie Squires, the Associated Students of Utah State University's current arts and lectures chair, said that attending events was just not enough involvement for her. Squires decided to run for an appointed position on ASUSU student government, and were elected last spring.
Favoritism is one corruption that Squires has seen while working with ASUSU.
“The problem exists of offering opportunities only to the people that you know and see the most in the office rather than searching for the best candidates,” Squires said.
Some students running for a position may have the proper criteria—and a better work ethic than others—but a person who has served on several committees, volunteered numerous hours and is well known by others would have a better chance at being elected.
“Whoever is willing to suck up gets a good recommendation for another job or position,” Squires said.
Although this may at first sound entirely corrupt, Squires said that sometimes this could be a good thing. While these people are "sucking up”, they are also putting in hours of hard work in order to obtain a particular position.
However, some people may come into the ASUSU office already knowing several people and get a position on a council over someone who may have better qualifications, simply because they are already known. This is where favoritism takes place.
Nichole Taylor, who serves on the president’s cabinet, agrees that favoritism plays a role in obtaining some positions within ASUSU.
“I definitely think it is political, if you are known by a lot of people and are more popular in that way you will defiantly be able to get a position over someone who is not know as well even if their qualifications are better,” Taylor said.
The Howl is one of the biggest Halloween events in the state of Utah, and people come from all over to attend. Being on the howl committee is a privilege, because not everyone is able to help at this event.
Sarah Blakely, a volunteer on The Howl committee said that she has not been to a single volunteer meeting but she is able to volunteer at whatever station she chooses to this weekend.
Blakely is well known with the ASUSU council and says that this is the reason for her being able to help out while not attending any meetings.
“It is easier when you give a job to someone you know personally rather than someone you don’t know," Blakely said. "The people you know that will work hard, that’s who you appoint and assign positions to, not the people that you don’t know.”
Edited by:
K. Wells
D. Van Dyke
S. Stack
