ASUSU encourages students to vote
Student candidates spent the weekend preparing their A-frames and platforms with hopes to win their sought-after position in the 2012-13 ASUSU election.
Campaigning begins Monday at 7 a.m., and the final results will be announced Thursday afternoon at 6:30 p.m. in the TSC International Lounge.
This year’s election theme is “One Vote, One Voice, One Change,” and students will have the opportunity to cast their votes for student council positions and the senator running for the college with which they are affiliated on ASUSU’s website.
Members of the Elections Committee will be available at a table near The Hub in the TSC from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to answer voters’ questions, Kirsten Frank, ASUSU executive vice president, said. They will have cookies set out to encourage students to participate as well as computers with which students can cast their votes.
“We have little buttons that say ‘I Voted,’ so if they don’t want to be bothered, they can wear that button,” Frank said.
A bill passed after last year’s election states that candidates running this year will not be able to use smart devices while campaigning, and only one laptop or similar electronic device is permissible to use at a candidate’s A-frame. The laptop may not be moved from the station.
“Last year, for some colleges, the candidates were allowed to campaign inside buildings with the permission of their deans, but we ran into problems with that,” Frank said. “This year there is no campaigning allowed inside buildings unless it’s a formal meeting that the candidate has asked to go to.”
As part of campaigning, ASUSU student body presidential candidates will assemble for the primary presidential debate Monday in The Hub at 11 a.m. Audience members will have the chance to ask them questions about their platforms and campus issues.
Later on Monday, the Res Hall Town Hall will give students another opportunity to interact with this year’s candidates at 7 p.m. in the Lundstrom Student Center. This is a new event that Frank said is replacing “dorm storming,” which was a previous election tradition.
“We thought it was less intrusive and gave them more of a chance to get to know candidates without bothering them at their houses,” Frank said. “Last year, there were some issues with privacy, and we want to respect the residents.”
The window of opportunity for students to vote in primaries will end promptly at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Primary announcements will be held the same day in The Hub at 4 p.m. Those whose names are announced will go on to campaign for the final 2012-13 positions.
The Utah Statesman will hold a debate for the candidates running for executive vice president, Student Advocate and Programming vice president positions. This will take place Tuesday in The Hub at 11 a.m.
Polls reopen Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. for the final elections, and the final two presidential candidates will go head to head in the final debate at 11 a.m. in The Hub.
Polls officially close Thursday at 3 p.m., and the final announcements will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the TSC Auditorium.
This year’s grievances board is headed by Krystin Deschamps, the student conduct coordinator and assessment specialist for Student Services. Those who wish to file grievances against candidates must obtain and submit a grievances form from the Student Involvement Office on the third floor of the TSC or from the ASUSU website.
– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu