FREE Stuff Motivates College Students

Today in class we discussed how the SGA at Northeastern University could get more students to vote. Some students suggested that the candidates make themselves more physically present and available on campus. For example, last year Ryan Fox drove around in a golf cart and spoke with different students on the quad. Others in the class expressed the desire for something such as a brochure or posting on myNEU that communicated the candidates views more clearly. Another idea would be to take time during class to vote. The sad truth of the matter is that many of these suggestions are already in practice, but are so commonplace on campus that students have come to ignore them. Students won't take a second glance at the chalk on the sidewalks, the flyers strewn on the floor, or the mass e-mails bogging down their inboxes.

Ironically, I think the best suggestion to encourage more students to vote might be FREE stuff. Free food. Free t-shirts. Free movie passes. Although I'm only in my second year at Northeastern, I've noticed a pattern of students being more willing to get involved in campus activities when there is the enticement of free things. The first hockey game of the season draws the most fans because the first ones to arrive receive free Diehard Dog t-shirts. The first RSA meeting of the year draws the most students because they hand out free t-shirts. The number of students on the quad increases significantly when campus groups are handing out free food.

In conclusion, the SGA needs students to vote and students like free stuff. I think that if SGA were to host a cookout on the quad or hand out t-shirts in addition to informing students about the candidates, that more people would be eager to vote.