Though all the candidates for class officers are running unopposed, the Drive and Experience slates are vying against each other for executive positions in next year’s Student Union.

Campaigning began last Tuesday at 10:00 p.m., as the slates and those campaigning for block funding chalked areas around campus to increase overall awareness of the election. Drive Vice Presidential candidate Josh Gantz, a freshman, hopes he and his running mates can get out and meet as many students as possible this week in order to ensure a strong voter turnout.

“Students won’t vote for you unless they know who you are and what your goals are,” said Gantz.

Gantz also said he believes his slate brings in unique skills from working in different areas of Washington University campus life that will better allow them to lead as SU executives.

Gantz and Experience Vice Presidential candidate Michelle Miller agreed that running on a slate allows for a strong group to present united goals, but also individual ones. Running with a slate allows candidates to interact with more students and have a more educated voting population, they said.

Miller noted that running with a slate is an interesting way to run for office, since a candidate must be able to convince students he or she are a good candidate in addition to informing people about the goals of the entire slate.

“Each candidate must have goals for their specific office,” Miller said. “Still, there is a common ideology that unites us all [as a slate].”

Experience plans to talk to more students this week about their goals for next year after spending last week advertising their name.

According to current SU Attorney General Corey Harris, slates have traditionally been a dominant force in campaigns on the WU campus. Most students form a slate to reach more voters and to implement a strong campaign strategy.

Another advantage to campaigning as part of a slate is that each candidate can spend $50, giving the entire slate a budget of $200. Individual candidates are only allowed to spend $100 on their campaigns.

“There are more disadvantages to not being on a slate,” said Harris. “Students tend to be drawn to the slate, as it can offer a clear platform for the candidates to express their goals.”

Harris’ voter turnout goal for this year is around 30 percent, though this election is less contested than those in past years. In the past two years, voter turnout for spring elections has been between 25 and 30 percent, much higher than the national average of 10 to 15 percent Harris found in his research.

This year, the eight candidates in the two slates are the only candidates running for executive positions, with no individual candidates choosing to run.

In addition to the executive positions highlighted on the ballot, students can vote for their respective class councils. No class council candidate is running against opposition. In addition, 12 students are running for Arts and Sciences Senate seats, four for Engineering, and one for Business. The positions on the Arts and Sciences school council will be filled in this election as well.

Two block-funding proposals are on the ballot, with Campus Y and Sports Club Federation both appealing for multi-year funding. Campus Y is seeking to renew its block funding, asking for $6.57 per student – the same amount they received last year – from the Student Activities Fee. Sports Club Federation, which is made up of more than 400 students in 23 sports groups, is requesting $9.75 in block funding, a dollar more than they received in the past.

According to Reagan Splinter, Campus Y treasurer and cabinet member, Campus Y provides many programs that have a positive effect on the St. Louis and WU communities.

“The campus needs community service organizations,” Splinter said. “It should be an avenue available to all students.”

Recently, an anonymous individual attacked Campus Y’s appeal for block funding stating that adult staff members have undue influence over the students, and for this reason block student programs from working effectively.

Splinter and those at Campus Y were discouraged by the email and plan to discuss it as a group before the elections.

For a block funding appeal to be placed on the ballot, student groups are required to collect signatures from five percent of the student population. Then a two-thirds majority is needed to pass the measure. If the block funding is approved, students get to keep these funds for two years.

In the past, groups such as KWUR, EST, and Team 31 have applied for block funding. Typically, larger organizations petition for this type of funding.

Contact Erin at [email protected]

2002 Student Union Elections

President Slate
Kasra Ahmadinia, ’03 Experience
Katie Platt, ’03 Drive

Vice President
Josh Gantz, ’05 Drive
Michelle Miller, ’04 Experience

Treasurer
Jonathan Frick, ’03 Experience
Rob Stolworthy, ’04 Drive

Secretary
Kalen Furrer, ’05 Experience
Alison Garvey, ’04 Drive

Block Funding
Campus Y
Sports Club Federation

Elections will be held from Wednesday, March 20 at 8:30 a.m., to Thursday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m. Students can vote on WebSTAC.

WUTV will broadcast a live debate between the two executive slates on Tuesday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m. Viewing parties will be held on the South 40 and in Small Group Housing, with Ted Drews and Krispy Kreme donuts available. Candidate statements and ballot information can be found on the SU website and in today’s issue of Student Life.

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