Sven Alskog
News Editor
Candidate filing for the ASISU legislative and executive branches opened on Jan. 27 and will remain open until Feb. 19 when all paperwork is due.
Current members of ASISU in good standing with a GPA above 3.0 are eligible to run for executive office, while those with good standing and a GPA over 2.0 can run for the legislative office.
“It’s a lot of work but it is worth it,” said Bea Valencia, a college of education senator. “You meet a lot of people and make connections with a lot of people who will be important in your career.”
Having the opportunity to become involved in student government at ISU is something that current members say has been rewarding.
“The most rewarding part is meeting people and interacting with a group of individuals who have similar interests,” said Hailey Hudson, another college of education senator.
Some aspects included in becoming involved in the leadership aspect of ASISU include filling out an application packet, submitting a copy of your academic transcript, paying an election deposit, finishing a campaign expenditure sheet, compiling a voter signature list and submitting the information for the online candidate voters guide to be used on the official website.
Along with the paperwork portion of the process, applicants will also give speeches and undergo other active campaigning throughout the election timeline, which culminates with voting on March 18 and 19 online through BengalWeb.
Voters can place their ballot for the allotted amount of senators within their college, along with selecting an executive ticket pair.
According to Jameson Bastow, the 2014 elections commissioner, numerous students in the past have been qualified to run but decided not to. This year, he hopes to see a change in that trend through the use of faculty recommendations.
The hope with contacting the prospective candidates after they are recommended is to increase the number of candidates in the running for all ASISU positions.
In 2013, just 24 students were in the running for 20 open spots.
“From my past experience with student council, there are lots of students who could do it but don’t,” said Bastow. “So we are seeking input from staff and faculty. We hope this also shows teachers that they are fundamental to student success here at ISU.”
Positions inside ASISU allow elected members to have a large say in important topics for all students at the university.
The purpose of starting to raise awareness of the election season earlier than in previous years, the goal is to bring in more candidates and overall more diversity into the candidate pool.
“We are really trying to get the word out earlier,” said Bastow. “We have posters and table tents everywhere.”
An increased effort to market the election process earlier and through a large reliance on word of mouth is expected to raise awareness of ASISU and what it does.
“My goal is to make students more aware that student government does exist at ISU and to help get more people more involved,” said Bastow.
By running for a position in student government at a collegiate institution, candidates will have the ability to prepare themselves for future experiences.
“You gain experience and have opportunities to grow,” said Bastow. “You can take what you are learning in the classroom and put it into real situations.”
A key to gaining the votes needed to earn a position for candidates is to use new and creative ideas when marketing.
“I spoke to the classes within my college and made bookmarks,” said Valencia.
Valencia’s bookmark idea is one that worked effectively in regards to catering to her audience, which largely consisted of teaching majors.
For the executive ticket, candidates are required to abide by a $1,000 spending limit, while senators have a maximum of $300 out of pocket in which they can spend on their campaign.
Bastow expresses that this is meant to help keep the playing field even.
In regards to compensation for the positions, the president earns $6,400 over the course of the academic year and $1,800 for summer commitments, while the Pocatello and Idaho Falls vice president positions both take in $4,000 throughout the school year. Senators receive a stipend of $2,480 for the entire academic year.
Students interested in running for the open positions in ASISU can visit isu.edu/asisu/vote for more information. Further information can also be found by heading into the ASISU office located in the Student Union Building.
