ASUM election season to begin

by Jayme Fraser | March 16, 2010 | Montana Kaimin

Those wishing to campaign for a seat on the ASUM Senate next year have until next Wednesday to sign up. 

ASUM Sen. Will Selph, the chair of ASUM’s Elections Committee, encourages all University of Montana students to consider running for a position with the student government in the upcoming elections. Any student taking more than seven credits and having at least a 2.0 GPA are welcome to run for one of 20 senate seats, for the position of business manager or as part of a ticket for president and vice president.

Students have to go into the ASUM offices to fill out some paperwork and then go to http://www.umt.edu/asum to print out petitions, which must be returned to the ASUM office by March 24 at 5 p.m. with at least 50 verifiable student signatures. Two days later, on the last Friday before Spring Break, Selph and UC Director Candy Holt will host a mandatory meeting for candidates to discuss campaign rules, like the parameters of finances and poster displays.

Campaigning will start April 5 and continue until elections conclude at the end of that month.

“I encourage any student with an interest in government, financial policy or that is curious about how the clubs work to run,” Selph said. “If they have a passion about the University of Montana and students here and the passions of students here, we encourage them to get involved.”

The first round of debates is scheduled for April 7 and 8 in the UC Commons during lunch.

If the field of candidates needs to be narrowed before the final election, a primary vote will be held April 14. A final round of debates will take place April 21 and 22 before the final elections are hosted on Cyberbear April 28 and 29.

Besides managing the funds collected from student fees and running agencies such as Transportation and Child Care, Selph said next year’s senate could also be working with the state legislature on various issues, such as funding for higher education.

Selph said students with questions about the election process or the ASUM positions should visit with student senators, executives and staff in their office on the first floor of the UC.

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