Students will have a chance to vote on representation and tax increases when student election polls open today.
Position elections for ASMSU, the undergraduate student government, and other changes will stay open until noon Saturday at www.student-elections.msu.edu.
The universitywide ballot includes tax referendums from ASMSU, The State News and the University Apartments’ Council of Residents.
Economics junior Patrick Carolan said he wasn’t aware of the elections, and would need to research the facts before voting. He said he likely would support tax increases for student organizations.
“I think it’s something to look into,” Carolan said, as he accessed the voting Web site on Monday at the Main Library .
General management sophomore Sarah Stamiris also said she didn’t know about the student elections, but plans to vote for business representatives on ASMSU’s Academic and Student assemblies.
“I don’t know who they are, but representation of the students is important,” Stamiris said. “Someone needs to be selected.”
Last spring, 2.7 percent of 31,795 undergraduate students voted in the ASMSU elections.
Matt Clayson, Academic Assembly chairperson, said candidates should campaign to attract more voters because there is more competition for positions this year.
Last year, 32 people ran for 63 available spots, and there was no competition.
This year, there is competition among the 59 available spots, and 49 candidates.
Nineteen out of 23 candidates are competing for 10 seats on Academic Assembly. Only two people are allotted to represent each of the 13 colleges.
There are 14 out of 26 candidates competing for eight spots on Student Assembly. The number of allotted seats are determined by each individual college population.
Clayson said he wants special elections to take place in the fall if all positions are not filled.
“It’s time to stop appointing people,” Clayson said, who was elected as the Academic Assembly James Madison College representative last spring. “I don’t see people appointed to federal and state senates. If we are to be a governing body, we should be popularly elected, not appointed.”
Undergraduate students still are allowed to become a candidate during elections by writing their names in on the ballot. Fifteen names from the candidate’s college need to be submitted on the Web site.
Mathematics senior Ari Sussman said electing assembly representatives is pointless, but he is voting.
“I’m going to vote for people solely because they are my friends,” he said. “I don’t even know their platforms.”
Sussman said the undergraduate student government needs to be overhauled because its structure limits its functions. Sussman said ASMSU should become a part of the university, and the administration should appoint ASMSU positions.
“An untouchable ruling elite is the best way to get things done,” Sussman said, pointing out some students don’t know their representative until it’s time to elect a new candidate. “There’s no place for democratic ritual in this university. It’s inefficient.
“How do you synthesize the will of the administration with the will of the students?”
