The race for the top slot in student government was already competitive just hours after the ASUO began accepting candidate applications for this spring’s elections.
As of 10 a.m. Thursday morning, two executive tickets had their applications in, Elections Coordinator Dante Vivanco said. ASUO State Affairs Coordinator Emily McLain applied to run for ASUO president with Sen. Chii-San SunOwen as her running mate.
Junior political science major Ari Lesser also applied to run for president with his former roommate and fellow political science major Phil Wood as his running mate.
In addition to the Executive, there are 10 open positions on the Student Senate and open seats on the EMU Board, the Athletic Department Finance Committee, the Programs Finance Committee, the Student Recreation Center Advisory Board and the Associated Students Presidential Advisory Council.
McLain said she filed to run for ASUO president at 8 a.m. Thursday. She said her work on legislative issues and on student-led campaigns, such as the Student Vote Coalition, has given her a lot of experience for the executive position and that she would focus on providing access and making sure everyone on campus participates.
“We want to provide space and a place for all the students to have a voice,” McLain said.
Lesser and Wood founded the Student Alliance for Progression, a group that promotes environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment. In high school, Wood said he served as state president of the Oregon Association of Student Councils, a leadership organization that serves middle schools and high schools throughout Oregon. Wood said he and Lesser would like to get involved in helping out the University.
“We’re two inspired political science students who really love this University and want to make it as great as possible,” Wood said.
Wood said he and Lesser haven’t set up their platform, but a forefront issue would be increasing sustainability on campus. They will also focus on Department of Public Safety reform and on the Student Recreation Center, he said.
The list of candidates is growing. At the informational meeting for the ASUO elections on Thursday, another presidential hopeful announced his plan to run.
Ted Niedermeyer, the editor in chief of The Oregon Commentator, said he planned to file to run for ASUO president. He said he wasn’t certain who his running mate would be.
“We’re still nailing down the platform, talking to alumni of The Commentator who have run in the past and trying to gauge some people around me,” Niedermeyer said. “I’m going to run because I need to be part of the process. It’s important.”
The deadline for filing for all positions is March 15 by 5 p.m. All applications should be turned in to the ASUO Office in Suite 4 of the Erb Memorial Union.
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