The Undergraduate Student Government Downtown met on Friday to debate and fix constitutional bylaws pertaining to the election codes for the university as a whole while they prepare for spring 2015 Senate and executive elections.
Many of the electoral codes that required attention were composed of meticulous details that needed to be clarified by USGD.
Ronald Briggs, the Downtown Phoenix Campus dean of students, said the most important subjects of the meeting would be the timeline, conduct of elections, campaign conduct, campaign material and campaign expenses.
In regard to election conduct, College of Public Programs Sen. Ryan Boyd asked if the use of Adobe software in the Walter Cronkite School building would be allowed in their interpretation of the constitution, where it is stated that ASU resources are not permitted to endorse campaigns and elections. The board was hesitant on the issue because some people know how to use the programs while others do not. The final decision will be made during a future meeting focused on Downtown bylaws.
The senators discussed increasing the budget for executive-board candidates on the Downtown Phoenix campus from $750 to $900. This decision will also be made during a later meeting.
It was decided unanimously that Tempe’s executive-board candidates’ budget of $1,250 was fair considering the campus’ size. The Senate candidates’ budget remained $250 for the Downtown campus.
Senators decided to be more clear when advertising the campaign season by changing the advertised dates to April 7 and 8 instead of the traditional “Second Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Additionally, senators debated the requirements for candidacy. When students run for election, it was decided that they should attend classes at the respective campus because of the connection they will have within the school.
Senators decided that exploratory students in the College of Letters and Sciences would be allowed an exception to represent a different college if running for an election in the future due to their option to declare majors later on in their school careers.
Cronkite School Sen. Kelsey Hess said that while exploratory students have that option, there is some merit to being enrolled in the college a candidate wants to represent.
“If someone was running for Cronkite senator, would Cronkite students necessarily want someone who is not in their school to represent them?” Hess said. “I think there is value in attending their college before being elected to represent the position.”
USGD is currently looking for an election commissioner and an assistant election commissioner. The positions were supposed to be filled Oct. 1, but the application process will close in November.
“Start looking for people who would be neutral and have no intent on running in the elections,” Boyd said to his fellow senators.
Visit the USGD office in the Post Office building for further information regarding the positions.
Contact the reporter at Jadenicole.Yeban@asu.edu
