The Student Government Association’s Senate elections booths are open this morning at 10 a.m. despite recent legalities posed with the electoral policies.
One of five hired Electoral Commissioners is required to be at every voting site under the SGA Constitution, Title 8, Chapter 4. This, however, will not be possible due to a lack of active Area Governments and the SGA’s inability to acquire commissioners who would have needed to be approved fifteen days prior to the election day.
Members of the SGA’s Coordinating Council and Executive Cabinet addressed this recently. Under a joint decision made by Senate Speaker Aaron Saunders, SGA President John Sheehan, and Chancellor of Elections Sam Blasiak, they decided to have the elections as scheduled.
This does, however, pose questions as to what could and may happen as a result of this decision. Last year, the SGA faced the wrath of a thrown-out Senate due to the same lack of commissioners at voting sites.
However, this year has been guaranteed to be different by Sheehan and Saunders, despite the lack of commissioners.
“To deny students who have been working hard an election based on one’s title is wrong,” Saunders said. “Everyone is running at 110 percent, and we need to look at the reality of the situation and not dwell on what we can’t change.”
Sheehan expressed similar thoughts by explaining that focusing on policies over student well-being will not get the SGA nor the student body anywhere.
“We can guarantee that two knowledgeable people will be at every table,” Sheehan said. “We can’t advocate to students if we spend our time fighting on policies such as these.”
Blasiak also expressed his confidence in today’s elections and commended members of the SGA Coordinating Council who questioned the situation.
“Obviously, the Coordinating Council is there to oversee my performance and they definitely did the right thing by expressing their concern,” Blasiak said. “I’m positive that everything will go smoothly. Right now we have nine capable assistants and three or four more who are working on times with us.”
Excited about only four seats lacking nominees and electoral races in three of the five at-large areas on campus, Saunders expressed his enthusiasm for today’s elections.
“I’m positive that we’re going to receive more than the five percent student vote required; I think were going to get 12 to 15 percent,” Saunders said.
Elections ballots will not only hold the names of individuals running for Senate seats, but three referendum questions as well.
The first question will be asking for student opinions on the surveillance cameras located on specific residence halls on campus.
The second will be regarding an increase in the student’s activity fee, which is currently an added $75 a year on every student’s tuition bill. If approved, the fee would increase by three dollars per year, raising the total fee to $78 dollars.
Referendum question three will be regarding the already-approved decision to convert the campus to two electoral districts: on-campus residential and commuter. Previously, the student body was separated into three districts: on-campus residential, on-campus non-residential, and commuter. Last year’s Senate passed a motion for the change and was then approved by the Coordinating Council; however, under SGA policy, the opinion of the student body is necessary.
Students can vote today for the SGA Senate at the Worcester, Franklin, Hampshire and Berkshire dining halls, as well as in the Campus Center. Tables will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
