Student Senate elections begin tomorrow. Presidential and vice presidential nominees from Delta Force, Students Rights and United Students vie for the top spots in Senate.

Delta Force

John Cross, Kansas City, Mo., junior, is running for the presidential seat on the Delta Force ticket. Cross, an English and French major with a minor in philosophy, currently holds a junior/senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senate seat.

Cross is involved in with many groups and organizations on campus from the Swing Dance Club to KU for Uganda.

“I think Senate has a lot of potential to make positive changes for the sake of the student body, and I want to make sure that it fulfills that potential,” Cross said.

Cross’ running mate, Liz Stuewe, Lawrence junior, is majoring in political science and American studies.

Stuewe has been involved with numerous groups and organizations during her time at the University. A few of her positions are serving as the president on the Commission for the Status of Women, Dole Institute of Politics-Student Advisory Board member and the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center-Advisory Board member.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with civic leaders all over campus,” Stuewe said. “I’ve worked with everyone from students, to administrators, to elected officials.”

Stuewe said she decided to run for Student Senate because of her love for the University and the feeling that she could make a difference.

“I spent my high school literally staring out the window at the University,” Stuewe said of her connection to the University.

United Students

Hannah Love, Dodge City junior, is the presidential nominee for United Students. Love, a junior/senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator, is majoring in sociology.

Love began her Senate career as a freshman senator during her first few weeks at the University.

“In the last two and a half years I’ve had the opportunity to serve on numerous boards and committees,” Love said. Her proudest accomplishment as a senator came from her work in the Campaign for Affordable Textbooks. The campaign created an online book exchange and most currently an initiative to create a textbook library.

Love also serves on the Unclassified Senate and University Senate.

Ray Wittlinger, Olathe junior and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator, is Love’s running mate. Wittlinger is majoring in political science.

Wittlinger was first appointed to Senate as the Interfraternity Council Senator. After a year in the position he chose to continue his Senate experience by running as a Freshman/Sophomore College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator.

Wittlinger has served the University in many roles including the Student Senate Executive Secretary and the Campus Safety Advisory Board.

“Hannah and I are dedicated to representing all students and bring about positive change,” Wittlinger said.

Students’ Rights

Johnathan Wilson, Paola sophomore, founded the Students’ Rights coalition as a way to give the power back to the students.

Wilson, majoring in political science, ran for Student Body Vice President last year on the $100 Fee Cut ticket. Wilson currently serves on the Senate University Affairs committee.

“I feel that it is very important to represent the students and my obligation to help bring the rights back to them,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the coalition feels that this “prestigious” institution robs the students of their right to an affordable education.

Wilson’s running mate, Caitlin Ballard, Overland Park junior, recently transferred to the University.

Ballard, a political science major, attended the University of St. Mary’s her freshman and sophomore years.

During both years at St. Mary’s, Ballard served as class president.

“I really enjoy the leadership roles and rallying people around our coalition,” Ballard said.

The possibility to work with lots of groups through Senate is exciting, she said.

Senate elections begin online at www.ku.edu/computing/election Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students can also vote at polling sites set up on Wescoe Beach and Mrs. E’s beginning Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kansan staff writer Ashlee Kieler can be contacted at akieler@kansan.com.

— Edited by Sharla Shiversv