Students could vote on up to 11 Student Government Association executive board slates this year.
Kevin Thurman, SGA elections chair, said at least 11 people have picked up the 53-page election packet that is required to run for executive board. Kyle Hayes, 2012 elections chair, said only two slates ran in the election last year, and he believes they were the only ones to pick up election packets.
Executive board slates are made up of one candidate each for president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Thurman said he doesn’t expect all of the people who picked up packets to run in the election.
“I don’t at all think there will be 10 slates come Nomination Convention next week,” he said. “I expect that there will be between four and six slates, which is by far the most interest we have had this decade.”
He said he thinks the rise in packets picked up is due to people wanting to learn more about the election process.
During the past five years, only one election had more than the traditional two slates run, in which three slates campaigned. Thurman said he thinks it is beneficial that more student interest is invested in this year’s election.
“After all, SGA gets money from every student’s tuition,” he said. “And the people we elect get a stipend from the university for their work.”
The elections board has had to reschedule two of the debates because they need larger rooms to accommodate the number of potential executive board candidates.
Students who want to learn more about the SGA election process can attend an open forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Teachers College room 102. Executive board slate nominations will be announced at the Nomination Convention at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in Art and Journalism Building room 175.
