If the latter seems more likely to be true, you might want to ask yourself if there is anything wrong with this scenario.

In the last eight ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, elections, the number of undergraduate students who turned out to vote indicated a major disconnect between the university’s student government service and its constituents.

Other than in 2008, when voter participation peaked at 6,000 students, average election turnouts for ASMSU elections have hovered around 3,000 students.

Despite the numerous services the organization provides, an overall lack of interest seems to exist in the minds of the nearly 37,000 undergraduate students they help oversee.

But whether the typical student is concerned with the results of the ASMSU elections, they still are responsible for funding their services each year.

Through an $18 tax collected each semester, MSU students foot the bill for the services, such as concerts, legal services, bluebooks and newspapers ASMSU provides each year.

This tax seems like an appropriate amount to pay for the number of duties our student government carries out on campus.

But our tax dollars don’t stop there.

In addition to paying for these services, ASMSU also uses the money they receive from the student body to pay for another area much easier to debate: paying for the yearly salaries of its executive staff.

According to ASMSU salary reports, almost $70,000 collected from students each year goes toward covering the salaries of the top eight ASMSU officials. The president tops the list as the highest paid position, with a yearly salary of $9,360, followed by the six vice presidents and chief of staff, each with $7,992.

For college students working about 20 hours a week, this sum seems excessive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s uncalled for.

As heads of the student government, ASMSU officials have a pivotal role in adhering to the interests of students.

Throughout the semester, ASMSU provides students with essential items for class, such as iClicker rentals and blue books, but that’s not all they do.

ASMSU officials frequently push the administration and state government to pass bills tailored toward benefiting college students, including the preferred student name policy and medical amnesty bill.

Though many students might never find themselves needing legal consultation, the sense of security students feel is valuable in itself.

None of the services ASMSU officials provide make you question whether the amount of money they receive each year is too high, but the dwindling connection they seem to have with their audience is.

When the last election drew in only 8.7 percent of almost 37,000 eligible voters, it’s hard to overlook the negative image it casts upon the organization.

If ASMSU officials want students to feel the salary they receive reflects the work they do, a greater amount of attention needs to be devoted to getting out and connecting with their audience on a more personal level.

If students are expected to show a greater interest in these elections, ASMSU officials first must do a better job of proving why.