IU Student Government has begun the electoral progress for next year's representatives.
The current candidates will be replacing Kyle Seibert, student body president, and Bell Pastore, IUSG vice president. The Presidential Inauguration for the president-elect and vice president-elect will occur.
The presidential tickets have been announced along with their ticket name. The first group is Diversity, Advocacy, Retention and Engagement, with presidential candidate Joa’Quinn Griffin and vice president candidate Jayan Hammons. Excel IU includes presidential candidate Brink Wolak and vice president candidate Megan Flynn. Revive for IU’s ticket includes presidential candidate Lillian Rodgers and vice president candidate Aiden Chism. IGNITE includes presidential candidate Aaliyah Raji and vice president candidate Marsha Koda.
The candidate debate for presidential tickets will be on Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room in the IMU. On March 2, the Presidential Candidate Town Hall will be conducted at 6 p.m. in the Maple Room in the IMU. Students will be allowed to ask candidates running for president and vice president questions at both events.
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Election day will take place on March 7 and 8. Students will receive an email from the IU Division of Student Affairs with a link to cast their ballots. Voting will last for 36 hours, beginning at 10 a.m. March 7 and concluding at 10 p.m., March 8. The results will be announced between March 11-13, according to the IUSG Campaign Guide of Spring 2023.
IUSG is working on using social media to spread information on the current election to inform students. The social media account regularly posts updates on the election and other IUSG related news.
“We’re working with Congress to have more of an outreach progress,” said Mary Stafford, co-chair commission for the election.
The current Instagram used by the election commission doesn’t have as many followers as IUSG. The goal is to move that information to the IUSG Instagram, according to Strafford. Currently the IUSG Election Commission Instagram has 152 followers and IUSG followers stand at 2,035.
Candidates Raji and Koda have started campaigning through social media. They have created an Instagram account that has over 272 followers to spread information about the campaign. The theme of their campaign pertains to believing in the power of engaging with students. They have provided a survey for students to take, with questions asking what students would like to see from IUSG in the upcoming semester.
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Griffin and Hammons have also launched their own Instagram account that has 134 followers. The account has posted experience Griffin has obtained from previously serving for three different IUSG, according to their account.
Chism said that if elected, Rodgers and his administration would focus on students, especially their service to graduate students. As of now, there are seven open grad student seats that are unfilled.
“Having a stronger relationship with just grad students as a whole along with grad student government would create a united force to make substantive change,” said Chism.
Seibert would like to see the continuation of student health prioritized for the next administration. New implications to improve student health services is an issue he claims his administration worked on and would like to see that carry out into policies for next year.
