GSBA elections promote student involvement

Statistically, the class of 2015 was ranked more involved in their high school student government than any class Gonzaga has seen.  A total of 499 students from the freshman class were involved in their student government in high school, whereas the prior freshman class had 379.

Soon Gonzaga will have 12 new leaders to represent students.

"This year we're trying to get the freshmen super involved so they can take that enthusiasm with them to sophomore year," said senior Brittany Winant, the GSBA elections commissioner. "We want more people electing the student government and the people who are going to represent them."

The freshman class statistics had GSBA members excited about this year's elections.  Unexpectedly, few freshmen applied for the available positions. 

"We were expecting a lot more people to run," Winant said. "There were a lot more people running last year and the year before that.  This year, it's kind of low."

There are four Senator positions for each class, and only three freshmen are running for senator positions. Three students are running for Freshmen Vice President, and three students are running for Freshmen Class President.

"I was really shocked to not see more names on the ballot," said Nolan Grady, a senior who's Speaker of the Senate. "Obviously it's disappointing, but I think you'll see that leadership pop up on a lot of other places on campus which is where we need it."

On, Sept. 11, GSBA held its first meet-and-greet in the COG.  The event gave freshman candidates a chance to meet the students they may soon be representing. 

"This is the first time we actually gave people the opportunity to meet the candidates," Winant said. "Before, the only way of getting your name out there was through the use of a poster."

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, GSBA offered another event called Voting Madness, which took place in the Crosby Student Center.  Computers were set up on the main floor for students to log in and vote. 

Also new this year is the distribution of the voter information packet.  Each year, GSBA assembles a packet, which identifies each candidate, their desired position, their platform and why they love being a Zag. GSBA distributed these packets throughout Crosby, and this year they are accessible online if students wish to familiarize themselves with the candidates.

The only candidate who wasn't included in the packet was senior Woo Kim, who is running for International Student Senator. Kim has had no previous GSBA experience.  Last fall, he was elected junior class Senator as a write-in candidate, but had to turn down the position because he did not have time to devote to the role.

Kim plans to help out the international students even if he isn't elected.  He said he recognizes how much the international students can struggle here.

"There is a gap between international student program and main campus," Kim said.  "I just want to be there for them to communicate through and try to make them have a better experience for next year."

Kim's competition is junior Maria Fernanda Valencia, an international student from Quito, Ecuador. Valencia was recommended for the position by the International Student Program.

Nicole Bene, a senior running for Off-Campus Senator, is the only female running for the position. If elected, Bene plans to focus her power as senator on emphasizing the need to be more respectful in our neighborhood. 

Bene's competitors, Connor Cahill, J.P. Curry and Ethan Lawrence all have similar goals in mind with respect to making the Logan Neighborhood a safer environment for students.  Only three students will be elected for this position.

In the on-campus category only two students are running for the three positions: Olivia Cundari and Sierra Minder. Cundari, a sophomore, said she is excited to take the voices of others and turn them into actions. Sierra Minder, a sophomore, expressed similar feelings.

"People don't realize how good of an opportunity being on student government is because we really do have a say," Minder said.  "The legislation we pass does make a difference."

GSBA is attempting to reach out to students this semester by pushing the revival of the Be Heard program Grady said.  Be Heard was started a few years ago by students, but slowly fell to the wayside, so this year GSBA is working to revive it.