This newspaper is proud to endorse a write-in candidate for SGA president and vice president.

No, this isn’t some kind of April Fools’ joke. And no, it’s not just being indecisive in trying to guide the student body on a subject we’ve investigated to its bitter end.

The fact is, we don’t see qualities in either of the two campaigns, James Orr or Tracy Baker that we’re particularly fond of.

So with that, we give our wholehearted support to a candidate that will serve this campus to the best of his or her ability, and see the bigger picture. Ask for a write-in ballot.

Effective Connections, Orr’s party, has trumpeted diversity as their strongest asset. From our reading of their platform, the only thing that it does is create more vaguely titled meetings to accomplish undetermined objectives. In a time when SGA should be more concerned with fighting for legitimacy on an apathetic campus, we don’t buy it. Start talking about ways to improve Joe or Jane Average student’s quality of education, not about the meetings it will take to do it. Their strategy lends it self to disconnecting more students than it connects with.

UTMFirst, Baker’s party, has put a lot of stock in their plan to change the Tennessee Hope Lottery Scholarship. The fact that the lottery money doesn’t benefit the very students that voted for it is the only change we see that’s needed. It’s far too late for that now. Granted, freshmen and sophomores might come up short at the end of your college career based on the hours cap, but a job while in college never hurt anyone. We do not see a need for a statewide campaign, and think any thing like it will ultimately fail to achieve its objectives. Worry more putting UTM first, not simple political lobbying on its behalf.

We’re sure the thirty or so people who are let down by this “non-endorsement” endorsement will be kicking and screaming for most of the afternoon. Take small comfort in that we didn’t endorse your opponent.

To the eventual victors of the Executive Council and senate races, we offer our hope that you will not follow in a long line of “social club” administrations. Find ways to get down to real work to earn that extra line on your résumé.