Tuesday, September 15, 2009
KU students elected five freshman candidates last week to represent them in Student Senate.
The new representatives are: Javon Shackelford, Alpharetta, Ga., Christine Lee, Omaha, Neb., Adam Miklos, Hutchinson, Kan., Alex Rippberger, Olathe, Kan. and Gabe Bliss, Olathe, Kan.
The senators attended their first Senate meeting last Wednesday. Christine Lee, the only woman to be elected, said she was amazed with the results.
“I was surprised and elated to get elected,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how the results would be because I am an out-of-state student and only knew five people coming to Kansas.”
Alex Earles, Salina senior and student executive chair of Student Senate, said 622 people voted for this election, which was less than half of the 1,491 students who voted last year. Earles said there may have been a decrease in voters this year because only 17 people campaigned to be freshman senators, compared to the usual 25-30 candidates of years past. Earles also said heavy rainfall during campaign week washed away chalk drawings and may have deterred people from being in front of Wescoe to campaign.
Besides chalk on a sidewalk, some candidates relied on electronic means of communication, mostly through Facebook. Every candidate except Lee created a campaign group on Facebook to rally support. Rippberger, who created a Facebook group with Bliss, said that Facebook was extremely helpful in reminding people to vote but that talking face-to-face was still a valuable method.
“I felt that talking to my friends and other people I knew around campus was the best way to create interest and votes,” he said.
Rippberger said he wanted to get involved with the finance committee of Student Senate, citing a need for the group to be more financially strict with its decisions.
Earles said addressing these kinds of concerns was the purpose of Student Senate, and would be further shaped by the new senators.
“Student Senate is the voice of the students to the administration, community and even the state and national government,” he said. “Through Student Senate and its five standing committees, which are open to all students, everyone has a voice and a place to express concerns and desires for change.”
Freshman elections take place every fall. Any freshman may participate by submitting a $20 check or 50 signatures from other freshmen, according to the Student Senate Web site.
— — Edited by Megan Morriss
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Comments
New senators take office
“I was surprised and elated to get elected,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how the results would be because I am an out-of-state student and only knew five people coming to Kansas.”
I always wonder how do people decide on voting... Now I know.
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