Union Board elections today

Twelve of the 23 candidates for directors of the Indiana Memorial Union Board spoke to the current Union Board of Directors Monday. Each spoke of his or her plans for the future of the IMU.\nThe speeches began at 7 p.m. in the IMU Gallery. Speakers were each allowed two minutes to outline their platforms.\nTo be eligible for selection, all candidates must be in good academic standing with an expected graduation date of no earlier than December 2001.\nSixteen student directors will be chosen from the candidates. Eight will be elected in a campus-wide election today. Results are expected tonight. \nThe other eight will be selected through an interview process Thursday. \nCurrent Union Board President Mike Gosman emphasized the importance for students to vote. \n"People don't realize what the directors do," Gosman said. "Students should vote because the board of directors makes a change in the lives of all 36,000 people who go to IU."\nCandidate Laura Edwards, a sophomore and current member of the Lectures Committee, said in her speech that Union Board should strive to provide interesting activities for all students. \nSome of the ideas she proposed were to bring in Tupac Shakur's mother to speak to the students and setting up a professional wrestling-type activity where students could receive instruction on how to wrestle.\n"Everyone pays the activity fee," Edwards said. "Therefore, they are a member of the Union Board. They should have stuff they can go to and enjoy, and I'd do everything I could to achieve that." \nIn determining what Union Board activities should be, candidate junior Megan Fennell said she would strive to get more students involved.\n"We have a group of events that people come to and enjoy, and then we never see them again," Fennell said. "I'd like to try to get these people who enjoyed these events to join the committee so they can help with the planning." \nAnother focus Union Board directors should have is making the IMU more than a place to study between classes, said candidate sophomore David Golichowski.\n"There's a lot of daytime involvement in the Union, and that's good, that's one of the purposes," Golichkowski said. "But I really think the goal is to get everyone involved in the programs: fraternities, graduate students, undergrads and international students. The Union is a great possibility to bring everyone together." \nPolls will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the East Lounge, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the ground floor of Ballantine Hall and from noon to 8 p.m. at the Main Library lobby.\nJunior Mo McNally, Late Night at the IMU director and elections director, said the voting process is a good way for students to get involved. \n"If students knew that with their activities fee they pay they have membership in the Union Board and they get involved, the money could be used more effectively, they could see what a great organization it is," she said.\nUNION BOARD\n• 8 directors will be elected in a campus wide election today.\nPolling Sites\n• East Lounge in the IMU - 9 a.m. to \n5 p.m.\n• Ground floor of Ballantine Hall - \n10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\n• Main Library lobby - noon to 8 p.m.