Madison Long
Staff Writer
One day, Denis Arturo Vargas Bravosa, a sophomore majoring in social work, decided he was going to run for ASISU Senator. After spending his high school years involved in student council, Vargas Bravosa felt he needed to get involved in his college community. Now, as a potential Senator for the College of Arts and Letters, Vargas Bravosa plans to promote mental health services and bring Arts and Letters back from the college that “you go [to] if you’re confused.”
Vargas Bravosa is running under the Bengal Spirit party, this year headed by presidential candidate Sky Halter and his vice president Charles Medema. Both sophomores, Halter and Medema are hoping to start collaboration between departments and academics on campus to bring clubs together, begin a marketing committee in ASISU where clubs can seek a personalized plan for advertising, and implement a website where clubs can easily advertise their events.
The other major party this year is the Bengals Den Party, run by sophomore presidential candidate Franklin Spicer and junior Gracie Funk, the vice presidential candidate. As part of their election plan, Spicer and Funk are focusing on student life, working to give students the college experience they applied for, improving campus safety, and connecting with ISU alumni.
Additionally, Mica Kankolongo is not running under a party as a Senator for the College of Arts and Letters.
“I feel that everyone has a reason they come to ISU, and they’re fantastic reasons,” says Halter, a current ASISU Senator for the College of Business. “If you want to see change, you have to work hard. It’s not ASISme, It’s ASISU.”
However, these election plans and campaigns started way back in January. After a few information meetings, candidates reached February 13’s “Point of No Return,” Candidates must submit their applications, an academic transcript with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, a $50 deposit from Senators, a $100 deposit from executive candidates, and finally the signed voter list – 150 signatures from students in any college for presidential candidates and 30 signatures specifically from their college for senators.
Candidates are supported by ASISU, which provides them with opportunities to get their name out through mandatory senator speeches and an executive ticket debate. The executive debate was well-attended by a few students eager to speak up and ask questions after each side presented their main points.
Unfortunately, the Monday and Tuesday midday senator speeches came with a few downsides. As the first from either party to speak, Vargas Bravosa said only about three to four people attended his speech, two of which were his friends. Andrew Vacarella Jr., potential Senator for the College of Business, agreed.
“When I opened up on my speech, I kind of went into my background,” says Vacarella Jr., who is double majoring in Business Management and Finance with a Financial Literacy Certificate. “To me, you can have it totally politically-based, where they know you on a political side. I want that personal connection between not only the students in my college but the students throughout the whole college.”
After speeches, candidates have around two weeks to campaign on their own before the week of the election. This year, voting opens at 8 a.m. Monday, March 17, and ends Friday, March 21 at 5 p.m. Presidents and their parties spend hours making campaign buttons, gathering prizes for voters, promoting their party by tabling around campus, hanging posters, and planning campaign surprises.
Spicer and Funk started election week by rolling up in a John Deere tractor to host their “take a picture, enter to win a JBL speaker.” Halter and Medema, on the other hand, held a Bengal scavenger hunt to win a $100 Visa gift card and a Bengal swag basket.
Win or lose, these candidates are here to support the students. Halter wants to stand up for the students, upping the Bengal spirit and “Best Bengal” energy. For Funk, she wants the students to look back on their college experience and be proud, working to make an impact however she can in her last year.
“An election can go well for both parties if you don’t let it get heated,” says Vargas Bravosa. “No matter how the election turns out, we’ll all be good. This election does not define who we think we are as people.”
Now that you know the candidates, it’s time to log in, take your vote, and see who won.
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!