Student government hits the web
Chris Maggio
Issue date: 2/25/10 Section: News
If you were to check your Blackboard account right now, you will see that, somewhere between Quantitative Reasoning and Oral Communication, you've been enrolled in "Student Government Elections."
This course sent its first announcement Friday, Feb. 12 detailing its purpose, which is to provide "all of the important information regarding our upcoming elections for the 2010-2011 SG President, Vice President, and Senate."
The announcement ends with a variation on a familiar question: "Will you…run for SG?"
Student government will be "doing a lot of the 'I Will' branding," Bradley Custer, senior, said. He also acknowledged "this campus doesn't get too hyped up about elections."
Custer is chair of the elections committee, chair of the academic affairs committee, and floor leader of the senate.
In response to this apathy, the elections committee started the election process earlier, is ending it later and is attempting a whole lot of recruitment in between.
Expect to see slides, both in the Capital Court and on channels two and three, which will read, "I Will…run for student government" and "I Will…Vote."
Look, too, for signs on campus, detailing meeting times for candidates.
Blackboard, however, is set to become the number one resource for this year's elections.
Last year, student government implemented Blackboard for voting purposes only.
"This year, we're making it the hub of information," Custer said.
The information will flow two ways, however. Students not only can find campaign guidelines and an election timeline on Blackboard, but also candidates can upload videos and other media to the website.
Blackboard will also have descriptions of the presidential and senatorial positions and soon biographies of the candidates themselves.
Other changes go beyond the web.
Students will no longer be permitted to hang campaign flyers in the residence halls. The elections committee created this rule because all flyers in the residence halls now require stamped approval by Kim Black, who works in student activities. Also, only resident assistants are permitted to hang flyers in the residence halls. The rule will save the RAs time otherwise spent hanging multiple flyers for multiple students; plus, it's environmental.
The elections committee also cited the environment in their decision to prohibit students from using university printers for campaign flyers.
Any student interested in running for student government should attend one of the information sessions today at either noon or 8 p.m. in Schneider Lounge where election packets will be distributed. Qualifications, such as GPA and student conduct, will be discussed.
Once a student is qualified to campaign, they may spend up to $500 and must keep an expense report, which is due to Custer by 4 p.m. April 13.
"We need dedicated students on student government," Custer said. "We want people who can manage their time effectively so that student government can be a priority."
Custer urged students to take note of the various debates and forums coming up in the coming weeks.
In addition to Blackboard, student government can be found on a Facebook fan page: Voting begins 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 13 and ends 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.
By Chris Maggio
cmaggio@capital.edu
This course sent its first announcement Friday, Feb. 12 detailing its purpose, which is to provide "all of the important information regarding our upcoming elections for the 2010-2011 SG President, Vice President, and Senate."
The announcement ends with a variation on a familiar question: "Will you…run for SG?"
Student government will be "doing a lot of the 'I Will' branding," Bradley Custer, senior, said. He also acknowledged "this campus doesn't get too hyped up about elections."
Custer is chair of the elections committee, chair of the academic affairs committee, and floor leader of the senate.
In response to this apathy, the elections committee started the election process earlier, is ending it later and is attempting a whole lot of recruitment in between.
Expect to see slides, both in the Capital Court and on channels two and three, which will read, "I Will…run for student government" and "I Will…Vote."
Look, too, for signs on campus, detailing meeting times for candidates.
Blackboard, however, is set to become the number one resource for this year's elections.
Last year, student government implemented Blackboard for voting purposes only.
"This year, we're making it the hub of information," Custer said.
The information will flow two ways, however. Students not only can find campaign guidelines and an election timeline on Blackboard, but also candidates can upload videos and other media to the website.
Blackboard will also have descriptions of the presidential and senatorial positions and soon biographies of the candidates themselves.
Other changes go beyond the web.
Students will no longer be permitted to hang campaign flyers in the residence halls. The elections committee created this rule because all flyers in the residence halls now require stamped approval by Kim Black, who works in student activities. Also, only resident assistants are permitted to hang flyers in the residence halls. The rule will save the RAs time otherwise spent hanging multiple flyers for multiple students; plus, it's environmental.
The elections committee also cited the environment in their decision to prohibit students from using university printers for campaign flyers.
Any student interested in running for student government should attend one of the information sessions today at either noon or 8 p.m. in Schneider Lounge where election packets will be distributed. Qualifications, such as GPA and student conduct, will be discussed.
Once a student is qualified to campaign, they may spend up to $500 and must keep an expense report, which is due to Custer by 4 p.m. April 13.
"We need dedicated students on student government," Custer said. "We want people who can manage their time effectively so that student government can be a priority."
Custer urged students to take note of the various debates and forums coming up in the coming weeks.
In addition to Blackboard, student government can be found on a Facebook fan page: Voting begins 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 13 and ends 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.
By Chris Maggio
cmaggio@capital.edu
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