Students begin campaign for ASG offices
Lana Hazel
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: News
For some students, the next six weeks will be spent in preparation for the Associated Student Government election campaigns. Candidates will run for the executive offices of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
Students interested in running will complete an application and then begin preparing by choosing running mates, writing platforms, designing signs, thinking of potential mottos and determining their reasons for running.
Fundraising also is a part of the campaigning process. Each candidate has a $2,500 budget limit, meaning a combined president and vice president ticket can spend a total of $5,000.
Carter Ford, the current ASG president, said raising money for things like signs, cookouts and stickers is hard work.
"I wouldn't want anyone to not run because of the money," Ford said. "Resources aren't the issue. It's about the people and ideas."
Jacob Holloway, a presidential candidate in last year's election, agreed that campaigning should be about the issues.
"I think our student government needs people with possibly unconventional ideas to be involved," Holloway said.
There is no limit to how many students can run for each position. Last year, there were three president/vice president tickets and two candidates for secretary, and the treasurer ran unopposed.
"I would like to see dozens run for every position," Ford said. "The experience alone teaches you a lot about yourself and who you are."
Ford emphasized that the campaign is not just about winning or losing. He said the campaign itself provided him the opportunity of meeting hundreds of students he wouldn't have met otherwise.
Running for an office is also a way of getting ideas heard. Candidates decide which issues they want to address and develop platforms as the center of their campaign.
"A positive part of my experience was being able to take on responsibilities and opportunities for leadership," Holloway said.
Students interested in running will complete an application and then begin preparing by choosing running mates, writing platforms, designing signs, thinking of potential mottos and determining their reasons for running.
Fundraising also is a part of the campaigning process. Each candidate has a $2,500 budget limit, meaning a combined president and vice president ticket can spend a total of $5,000.
Carter Ford, the current ASG president, said raising money for things like signs, cookouts and stickers is hard work.
"I wouldn't want anyone to not run because of the money," Ford said. "Resources aren't the issue. It's about the people and ideas."
Jacob Holloway, a presidential candidate in last year's election, agreed that campaigning should be about the issues.
"I think our student government needs people with possibly unconventional ideas to be involved," Holloway said.
There is no limit to how many students can run for each position. Last year, there were three president/vice president tickets and two candidates for secretary, and the treasurer ran unopposed.
"I would like to see dozens run for every position," Ford said. "The experience alone teaches you a lot about yourself and who you are."
Ford emphasized that the campaign is not just about winning or losing. He said the campaign itself provided him the opportunity of meeting hundreds of students he wouldn't have met otherwise.
Running for an office is also a way of getting ideas heard. Candidates decide which issues they want to address and develop platforms as the center of their campaign.
"A positive part of my experience was being able to take on responsibilities and opportunities for leadership," Holloway said.
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