SGA Election Follows New Rules
Danielle Kloap
Managing Editor
Student Government Association added new rules for elections regarding Facebook and MySpace after problems with candidates campaigning before the campaigning period started last year.
Lindsey Kight, student programs and activities director, said no campaigning will be allowed before April 14, including making Facebook or MySpace groups, posts on walls and statements regarding SGA on a candidate’s status. Anything that can be seen by the masses on either Web site can be considered campaigning.
“We didn’t know what to do about campaigning on Facebook last year,” Kight said. “We had never had that problem before.”
Kight said SGA got the rule from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The filing period for SGA offices will last until April 11 at 4:30 p.m. In order to file for any office, a student must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA. If filing for secretary or treasurer, the candidate must complete 24 hours before the election. If filing for president or vice president, the candidate must complete 45 hours before the election.
In order to become an SGA candidate, students must complete a packet, which can be picked up in Kight’s office in the John F. Gibson University Center. The potential candidate must turn in 50 student signatures with their packet, along with signing forms acknowledging they understand the election rules.
Campaigning will start April 14. Once it starts, Kight said candidates can campaign however they chose, and may utilize Facebook and MySpace.
Kight said a limited campaign period allows candidates to be more even.
SGA also keeps candidates even by requiring every candidate to turn in a campaign expenditure form by April 18 at 4:30 p.m. Candidate’s campaign expenses cannot exceed $75. Kight said this prevents candidates from using free materials that other candidates may not have access to.
“This evens the playing field,” Kight said. “If a candidates father works in lumber and gives them supplies to make signs, its not fair to the other candidates.”
Kight said the number of people applying for office is about the same as last year. As of April 7, three candidates are running for president, one candidate is running for vice president and one running for secretary. Kight said she will release the candidate’s names after the campaigning period starts April 14.
Elections will be held April 21-23 in the following campus locations:
- Monday, April 21: Memorial Classroom Building 9 a.m. - 1p.m.
- Tuesday, April 22: U.C. 10 a.m. - 2
- Wednesday, April 24: Science Center 9-1
Students must have current university identification in order to vote.
If students want change, Kight encourages them to run for an SGA office. She said running as a candidate requires no prior SGA experience.
“Too many times, students talk about wanting to see a change, which is part of being a student,” Kight said. “They should join SGA and run for an office. Then they will not only talk about change, but they will do something to make a difference.”
To pick up a candidate packet or for more information, contact Kight at (870) 460-1396 or kight@uamont.edu.
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