Last week the Daily Kent Stater reported students from each college were asked if they knew who represented them in Undergraduate Student Government. Not one of the 50 students knew who their senator was. Twenty-one of these students didn’t even know an organization like USG existed.

USG elections are today, and we suggest you vote. So maybe you didn’t know who your senator was last semester, and maybe you didn’t know what USG was before you read this column. But the only way to get your feet wet is to vote and begin your relationship with the senator then and there.

Voting is easy; all you have to do is sign onto your FlashLine account, and all the information you need is there. Don’t know anything about your college’s candidate(s)? The Daily Kent Stater has been running profiles of the candidates since last week; just log onto KentNewsNet to find the articles if you missed them. It’s a great way to get a general idea of what they’re all about.

Because these are the students who speak for us at times, it’s in our best interest to let them know exactly what we think and to figure out how they think. It’s not much different from your state senator except get this: You actually have a good chance of talking to them.

There were suggestions that the USG senators should have office hours and, well, they do. Some of you are probably actually thinking, “The senators have offices?”

Yes, they have offices, and they’re in the Student Center. Yes, they have office hours which are posted in the offices. Yes, they have big fat faces ready to listen to you and yours.

Now, on the flip side of that – it’s hard to know your senator if the only time you hear much about them is through this paper. So now we have to ask them to do their part. Show your faces more often, USG.

Senators, once you’ve been voted in by your respective college, start taking action so people know who you are.

Go to as many events and group meetings your college is involved in as you can. Go to professors in those colleges, and ask to speak in a few of their classes just so students can see your face and you can get to know some of them. Don’t pass on your office hours; make sure you’re available at every minute you claim you will be. Make yourself available and make sure others know you’re available any way you can.

Now don’t forget, the college you represent is not truly the only group of people you speak for; each senator is really a representative for the entire student body. So go to as many meetings and events as you can. Go to different student political meetings, go to minority group meetings, go volunteer with groups. Just go do something for anyone.

USG exists for a reason, but until there is better connect between senators and students, no one will understand the reason. But before this can happen, both sides need to try just a little bit harder. With a new year of USG upon with election day – what better time to start?

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.