Undergraduate students can apply for candidacy for Undergraduate Student Government positions until March 24.
SGA President and member of the Elections Commission Daniel Brookins, senior legal studies and philosophy major, said students who want to run for SGA positions should fill out the 2014 Elections Candidacy Packet on
OrgSync or visit the Office of Student Activities on the first floor of the Don Taft University Center to pick up a copy.
Students can run for three positions of SGA’s executive branch: president, vice president of legislative affairs and vice president of judicial affairs. They can also run for these senator positions in SGA’s legislative branch: international senator, minority senator, residential senator, commuter senator, and non-traditional senator.
In addition to completing the packet, students who want to run must also collect 100 signatures from other students and have the packet’s letter of recommendation form filled out by a former or current supervisor, professor or dean. They must also attend an Elections Information Meeting on March 18 at 5 p.m. or March 20 at 12 p.m. Both meetings are in the Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2071.
Once they complete these steps, interested students must submit the packet to the Office of Student Activities by March 24 at 4 p.m.
Brookins suggested students interested in leadership experience consider running.
“I would encourage any student who’s interested in doing it to really check it out — at least read through the packet,” he said. “And if they have time, really pursue it because this a great way to get involved, to really make your college experience stand out and really make a difference on campus.”
Graduate Assistant for Student Governance Delia Hernandez said candidates must be taking at least 12 credits while they are running and have a cumulative 2.5 GPA. Students who meet these and other requirements outlined in the packet will be approved for candidacy by The Office of Student Activities and their names will be put on a ballot that will be sent to all undergraduate students.
Elections will run from April 7 at 1 p.m. to April 9 at 4 p.m. via emails sent to all undergraduate students. The results will be announced on April 10 at an Elections Party at the RecPlex pool patio.
Hernandez said candidates for president, vice president of legislative affairs and vice president of judicial affairs may run together on one ticket, similar to running under a political party. Running on a ticket means these three candidates are grouped together on the ballot and are voted on as one.
If they choose, these three candidates can also add other students to their ticket whom they plan to appoint to the executive board positions of treasurer, executive secretary, campus entertainment director and public relations director.
Brookins said students running for senator positions may also run on a ticket, but senator candidates are voted for separately from the ticket on the ballot.
However, running under a ticket is not required; students may also run independently without a party affiliation.
Hernandez said SGA promotes and protects the rights of undergraduate students.
“They’re here to encourage unity among students by advancing the quality of their academic life and social life,” Hernandez said. “And they provide a form of government for and by the students.”
For more information, students can read the candidacy packet or visit the Office of Student Activities. They may also contact Brookins at 954-856-9901 and Hernandez at 954-262-7173 and dh840@nova.edu.
