Pool of eligible candidates for student elections runs deep

Chief Justice Samantha Merrill, senior of Oral, South Dakota, announced the list of candidates eligible to run for president or vice president in the upcoming spring election.

In order to run for the presidency, senators must have previously served at least one year in Senate by election time. Dormitory senators are included in the eligible pool of candidates.

The senators eligible for the president position are as follows:

Senator Julia Elbert, sophomore of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Senator Emily Johnson, junior of Mead, Colorado, Senator Mike Pacheco, freshman of Broomfield, Colorado, Senator Chaona Radtke, junior of Sidney, Vice President of Finance Elizabeth Rotherham, junior of Balfour, North Dakota, Senator Aaron Wood, junior of Mineral Wells, Texas, Senator Leah Guerrero, sophomore of Evans, Colorado, Senator Natnael Tadesse, junior of Chadron, Senator Aaron Jones, sophomore of Custer, South Dakota, Senator Samantha Rahmig, senior of Gering, Senator Travis Mills, senior of Fort Collins, Colorado, Senator Kristina McGann, senior of Broken Bow, Senator Samantha Stowell, freshman of Callaway, Senator Isioma Akwanamnye, freshman of Awka, Nigeria, Senator Caitlin Hueftle, freshman of North Platte, President Lukas Klueber, junior of Rapid City, South Dakota, Vice President Konery Klueber, junior of Rapid City and Vice President of Finance Lily Umeta, sophomore of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

To run for vice president a senator must serve for at least one semester. Eligible candidates for vice president include all candidates listed above as well as Senator Cody Cooper, graduate student of Gothenburg.

Petitions to run for student government are due by 5 p.m., Friday, March 15. Starting next week office hours in the Student Senate room will be 10 a.m – 12:45 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Thursday. Though office hours are “kind of sparse”, Merrill says the hours will be extended as the deadline approaches.

“They’re (the office hours) are going to be kind of sparse to start out, but I promise after we get closer to the deadline I’ll be there…basically, if I have a free moment, I’ll be there,” Merrill said.

Senate unanimously approved CAB’s request for $10,800 for the spring semester. The money will cover the costs of four Free Movie Nights and four Free Bowling Nights for this semester, with Free Movie Nights totaling $6,000 and Free Bowling Nights using the remaining $4,800. This spring’s budget is nearly half of Spring 2018’s $20,000 budget.

Student Trustee Dawson Brunswick, senior of McCook, reported that he and Senator Klammer, the Student Trustee-elect, had a successful meeting and “a great Senator’s reception,” saying the senators “really liked” the proposal for Ricketts’ Nebraska Talent Scholarships program. Additionally, Brunswick relayed information about scholarships through the Rural Business Leadership program, a program that offers 15 tuition waivers for students studying agribusiness, finance and accounting.

According to Brunswick, the waivers are “good for up to 256 credit hours,” which includes two internships throughout the four-year program as well as a master’s program. Both incoming and current students can apply.

Senator Jones reported that the Campus Improvement committee is planning on hosting a Coffee with Senators event tentatively set for February. The event could include free coffee and cookies and would offer a chance for the student body to meet their senators and discuss issues and ideas related to campus.

Senator Cooper said that conversations with fellow students would provide an opportunity for students to give feedback.

“You can get feedback…it doesn’t have to be a long, extended conversation, but we need interaction,” Cooper said.

President Klueber announced that he and Senator Klammer are working with Sports and Recreation Student Affairs Manager Jeff Turman to review NPAC by-laws.

Senator Wood reminded Senate to check out the Graves Photo Exhibit at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center. The exhibit is open now until March 29.

Free Movie Night is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 27. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. Movies being shown are “Glass”, “The King of Would Be King” and “Ocean of Grass”.

Senate currently has $30,999.79 in unallocated funds.