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Two pairs running for ASUI
president, 13 students for Senate
Facebook is used by many students as a social network, but now it is being used to help promote candidates in the 2008-09 ASUI elections.
“Facebook groups are a big thing this year,” said Crystal Hernandez, ASUI elections coordinator. “I think I’ve gotten an invite from every running candidate. It’s a good way to get their names out there.”
Junior Tricia Crump is running for ASUI vice president alongside presidential candidate Garrett Holbrook. Crump said the pair is using Facebook as a means of reaching out to students across campus.
“If students see your name before they go to vote, it makes it easier for them,” Crump said. “You can put up pictures so people know what you look like and you can invite friends as you go so it can spread quickly.”
Facebook isn’t the only place to find information on hopeful candidates, Hernandez said. Applicants have also passed out fliers and hung posters around campus in hopes to gain recognition. However, the campaign budget is lower this year than in previous years. The budget for potential senators is $300, $200 lower than last year. Candidates running for a presidential spot will only be allowed to spend $1,250 as opposed to the $1,500 they were allowed to spend last year.
“The Senate saw candidates had too much money to spend,” Hernandez said. “They wanted to make sure people weren’t winning simply by how much they spent on their campaign.”
Candidates will also participate in open forums this week where they will present their ideas to the public. The forums will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Commons food court.
There are 13 students running for a spot on the Senate and two pairs running for president and vice president. The president and vice president must run together on the same ticket, Pro-Tempore Dean Throop said.
“You can’t just run for president unless you have someone running for vice president with you,” Throop said. “It’s stipulated in the ASUI constitution but the president and vice president are usually a close team and very dependent on each other anyway so it works out.”
ASUI President Jon Gaffney said he has mixed feelings about leaving his position at the end of the semester but is excited to see who will take his place.
“I know it’s time for someone else to take over and bring their fresh ideas to the job,” Gaffney said. “That’s what makes ASUI successful.”
Students should look for candidates who are willing to work hard and who have a specific plan, he said. Gaffney encourages students to pay attention to what the candidates are saying and ask questions if there are things they don’t understand.
“Students deserve to know they will be represented well and the only way to know for sure is to talk to the candidates,” Gaffney said. “It’s OK to give the candidates a hard time, it’s part of the process.”
Campaigning will continue through next week and the voting process begins April 14. Students will have three days to cast their votes for their top eight picks for ASUI Senate and top pick for president and vice president pair.
Voting booths will be set up in the Idaho Commons, the Student Recreation Center, the Wallace Residence Center and possibly the Student Union Building, Hernandez said.
Students can vote at the booths or online. A mass e-mail will be sent out to students with a direct link to the voting Web site, Crump said and results will be announced on the evening of April 16.
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