SGA Elections Loom

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   Students competing for election to the Student Government Association canvassed the campus from March 26 – April 6, seeking signatures of fellow students to fulfill ballot requirements. 

   In order to appear on the ballot, a candidate filing for executive office must obtain the signature of 50 students on a form provided by the election commission. In addition, the candidates must sign an agreement recognizing that the election commission remains the authority over SGA elections. The candidate who receives the most ballots cast wins election to that office. 

   Some of the established rules concerning the election include: 

§         A limit of $75 in expenditures per candidate

§         Candidates may not campaign in a classroom. Any candidate found doing so will be removed from the ballot and become ineligible for any office in that election.

§         No campaigning is allowed within a 50-foot vicinity of the polls during election.

§         Poll workers may not wear or display any campaign paraphernalia or actively campaign for candidates while working for the polls.

§         Campaigning begins no earlier than one week prior to the election.

§         Candidates may not place any literature (flier, cards, poster, etc.) inside classrooms, on automobiles, utility poles or trees. 

   The election takes place on the UAM campus over a period of three consecutive days and is scheduled for April 17-19 at the following locations: 

              Tuesday, April 17:  10 a.m. – 2 p.m., in the University Gibson Center Green Room

              Wednesday, April 18:  9 a.m. – 1 p.m., in the Memorial Classroom Building Lobby

              Thursday, April 19:  9 a.m. – 1 p.m., in front of the Math and Science Building 

   Candidates for various offices are as follows:

              Landon Grimes, president

              Michael Thomas, president

              Billy Huggins, treasurer

              Christopher Allen, vice president

              (Note:  these names registered as of April 3,2007) 

   When asked what changes or additions he would make if elected to office as SGA president, Landon Grimes said, “I would like to get newspaper stands placed at various locations on campus. In his recent lecture, Robert Kennedy Jr. pointed out that less than 10 – 15 percent of the population reads papers.”  

   In addition, Grimes said, “Students need more representation on campus. We used to have Senators to represent each department, and I’d like to see why this program failed and find out how we can reintroduce it to the student body.” 

   According to Director of Student Programs and Activities Lindsey Kight, it is not unheard of for students to collect enough of the required signatures up until the last minute at 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 6. 

   “It’s been a real learning experience for me to find the best way to contact students regarding the elections and very difficult to relay the necessary qualifications for to the candidates. Not everyone reads their email,” Kight said. 

   Students may vote one time only in the upcoming elections, and they must present current UAM identification in order to vote.

 

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