Officials expect at least two slates at the second Student Government Association Nomination convention tonight.
Elections Chair Marco Pretell-Vazquez said he heard rumors of at least one other slate showing up and thinks another will be at the convention. He said he's given out two election packets since Monday.
Pretell-Vazquez said one slate submitted an elections packet at Monday's Nomination Convention but it was denied because it didn't meet requirements. Presidential candidate Beth Cahill said the slate plans to submit a new elections packet. The Elections Board scheduled tonight's convention so slates could have time to complete packets.
According to an Elections Board press release each slate meeting the requirements for nomination will be given up to 10 minutes to answer questions from the audience and media. The board will facilitate the beginning of each slate's session, but will not ask any questions.
The release also stated if two or more slates enter, a debate between all of them is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. NewsWatch will broadcast the event. If only one slate is nominated and no others meet the 5 p.m. Sunday deadline, a town hall meeting with the slate will be scheduled Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
SGA President Frank Hood said he believed more slates were forming because people have requested election packets from the SGA office in the past few days.
"I really hope other slates step up and run because that's what elections are about," Hood said, "it's a pitting of idea versus idea."
He said people shouldn't have apprehensions about new slates because the current SGA executive branch was put together in a few days and is still standing.
Hood and Pretell-Vazquez questioned whether the slate that attended Monday's convention handled its situation properly.
Hood said honesty is the cornerstone of SGA. Waiting for a few days to find out what the slate was doing led him from believing the fiasco was caused by an honest mistake to thinking it was trying to hide something.
He said two resignations makes a bold statement about the slate's feelings on the issue. He said it makes it look as if the slate thought the situation was a big deal.
"It definitely hurt their public perception," Hood said. "[Addressing the situation] is a good step to changing that perception but it will come down to students' opinions."
Pretell-Vazquez said coming forth with more information was good for the slate, but it could've handled the situation better. He said if anyone had questions about procedures or policies, he or she could've asked him or the Elections Board.
Joe Lanane contributed to this report.
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