Empower. Elevate. United.
These are the three new Student Government Association (SGA) 2019 election slates announced Tuesday at the Nomination Convention.
SGA is a student-run organization that advocates for student concerns by creating legislation and having discussions. In the senate, there are caucuses and committees that focus on specific aspects of campus.
Here's an overview of the three slates and their members:
RELATED: Three Ball State SGA slates kick off 2019 campaigns
Julian Simmerman, President
Year and major: Junior economics major
SGA affiliation: none
Other activities: Sigma Chi Fraternity
Joel Johnson, Vice President
Year and major: Junior journalism and telecommunications major
SGA affiliation: none
Other activities: Alpha Phi Sorority Ivy Man, NewsLink Indiana reporter
Erin Byrne, Secretary
Year and major: Junior in school of nursing
SGA affiliation: none
Other activities: none
Nate Woods, Treasurer
Year and major: Junior finance major
SGA affiliation: none
Other activities: Sigma Chi Fraternity, Interfraternity Council executive board, Excellence in Leadership program
Aiden Medellin, President
Year and major: Junior political science major
SGA affiliation: Organizational senator for ROTC
Other activities: Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, vice president of Internal Affairs — Interfraternity Council, Army ROTC
Cameron DeBlasio, Vice President
Year and major: Junior journalism and political science major
SGA affiliation: SGA senator at-large caucus
Other activities: Honors fellow — Honors College, president — Pre-Law Interest Group, public address announcer — Ball State Athletics
Cassidy Mattingly, Secretary
Year and major: Sophomore elementary education major
SGA affiliation: SGA deputy chief of staff, former senator
Other activities: Delight Ministries, Hall Council, Residence Hall Association
David Sinclair, Treasurer
Year and major: Junior finance major
SGA affiliation: none
Other activities: Army ROTC
Jake Biller, President
Year and major: Sophomore telecommunications major
SGA affiliation: Current SGA parliamentarian
Other activities: Awaken Ministries, Reel Deal
Elizabeth Latham, Vice President
Year and major: Sophomore exercise science major
SGA affiliation: Former SGA senator as chair of at-large caucus
Other activities: Lifeguard at Recreation Center, Cardinal Catholic
James Schwer, Secretary
Year and major: Sophomore biochemistry and pre-physician assistant dual major
SGA affiliation: Current SGA senator
Other activities: Health and safety co-chair in Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, commuter ambassador, vice president of Administration for University Program Board
Jalen Jones, Treasurer
Year and major: Junior computer information systems major
SGA affiliation: Current SGA treasurer
Other activities: Vice president of the Black Student Association
RELATED: SGA 2019 slates release platform points
Who is up:
Students can cast votes for one of the three executive slates.
Last year, students were able to vote for seven at-large seats, 10 off-campus seats, 10 collegiate seats and five university senate seats, according to previous Daily News reports.
The executive slate:
Members of an executive slate run on the same ticket. The positions in each slate include:
- President
- Vice president
- Secretary
- Treasurer
All slates were nominated to run at the nomination convention. To be nominated, the slate must submit a $200 bond payment and gather at least 400 signatures on a petition form. Additionally, slates need to have the elections packet filled out.
Each member of the slate is required to have at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA, full-time status at the time of nomination and three semesters of classes completed.
How to vote:
Voting opens Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. Students can vote through a link in a campus-wide email sent by the Office of Student Life, or they can vote at polling places in the David Letterman Building, Bracken Library and the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.
The Elections Board:
The Elections Board is a group of students approved by the SGA senate responsible for monitoring the campaigns.
It includes seven members, each with a specific position:
- Elections Board chair
- Sheriff
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Debate coordinator
- Press secretary
- Voting member
Campaign
Slate can fundraise and promote their platforms as long as it falls within the election code. If codes are violated, candidates will be reviewed by the Elections Board and possibly fined. These are up to the discretion of the Elections Board sheriff.
According to the code, campaigns can cost up to, but no more than $2,000. A separate $200 bond is required to begin campaigning. Payment comes out of the bond if slates are fined.
Debates:
The Presidential and Vice Presidential Debate, All Slate Debate and Presidential Town Hall Debate are planned by the debate coordinator each year. The Elections Board chooses a student not involved in SGA to be the moderator.
Topics in the debate can include anything from platform points to broad overviews of their hopes for student government. The Presidential Town Hall debate includes questions from students.
The winners:
The winners will be announced Feb. 26 after 5 p.m. at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center in the Office of Student Life.
A winner is determined by a majority of vote, but if no slate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held.
RELATED: What students need to know about Ball State's 2019 SGA election
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