USUSA candidacy filing opens

Students who are planning to run for elected positions within the Utah State University Student Association for the 2024 school year can declare their candidacy starting Jan. 8.

New USUSA officers are elected every year, and there are various positions on the executive leadership board, Logan executive council, statewide campuses executive council and academic senate.

According to the election website, USUSA officers play a key role in the USU experience. Their responsibilities include “Managing student fee funds to plan events and improve campus; Collaborating with students and listening to their concerns; Voicing student interests to faculty members, administrators, policymakers, and other community leaders.”

Although USUSA positions are important to student life, elections can be seen as a nuisance to the general student population. Current student advocate vice president Tyson Packer understands why.

“Students get very sick of being bothered, which is natural,” Packer said. “But I think it’s really important that students understand why we have elections.”

USUSA elections exist to empower students to shape the environment in which they study and work.

“These are the positions that are the biggest springboard for change at the university. When students want something to change — like parking issues or testing center waiting times — those problems are fixed by student officers coming up with solutions,” Packer said.

Colin Hastings, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences senator and senate pro tempore, shared the same sentiment.

“USUSA is the voice of the students,” Hastings said. “Student officers will take your concerns to the right people, work through it and try to get it solved. We act as the mediator between faculty and students.”

By participating in these elections, students ensure their concerns, ranging from mental health support and diversity initiatives to sustainability efforts and academic enhancements, are heard and addressed by the administrators in power.

“Votes do matter,” Packer said. “They are how things are changed and implemented.”

Students take charge of their university experience by voting, but they can also do so by running for office themselves.

“I’ve loved helping and meeting new people there and being able to be a student voice,” Hastings said. “I see USUSA as something that can be really big in the future, and I think we can work within the university to become an even bigger voice for students.”

Hastings is going to be running for office again this year, this time for executive vice president.

“Running for student government is challenging and stressful, but running is an amazing experience whether you win or not,” Hastings said. “You learn a lot about the university and get to connect with a lot of different people.”

Hastings encouraged anyone who is considering running for office.

“If you’re thinking about it, just do it. Make sure you have an understanding of the position you’re running for, learn about the process and do your due diligence. There’s no downside to running,” Hastings said.

Candidacy declarations will be open from Jan. 8 to Jan. 29. Self-enrollment can be done by enrolling in the elections Canvas course.

Information on how to take part in USUSA elections and/or run for office can be found at usu.edu/involvement/elections.

Questions or concerns about candidacy declaration can be submitted to elections.ususa@usu.edu.

Executive leadership board elections will be held Feb. 28-29. Academic senate and region elections will be held March 4-5.