Mike Flood '03 is running uncontested for a spot on the Committee on Priorities and Resources.
Juniors Zeeya Jamal, Pete Juran and Katherine Vondy are looking to fill the vacant spot left by Phil W. Tucker '03E, who was elected president of his class last year but decided to take this semester off.
Robert Helms, Eunice Koo, Timothy Jones, Chris Palacios, Tom Scott-Craig, and Blake Sparrow are running for freshman class president, while Theodore Hertzberg, Kelly Smith, and Robbin Williams are running for the position of Class of 2004 College Council representative.
"This election is about giving a strong and experienced voice to a new class that has the potential to demonstrate and contribute much to the Amherst College community," said Hertzberg. "It's important for the freshman class to have a strong voice on the College Council because the issues that come forth before the committee are often most directly relevant to our class."
Although three new seats in the Senate were opened to freshmen this year, only Dan Geldon '04 chose to run for the Student Senator-at-Large position.
Geldon will run uncontested and the Executive Board will appoint the remaining two Senators-at-Large, according to Student Government Organization (SGO) Vice President Michelle Oliveros-Larsen.
"It's too bad that a couple more people didn't file on time, but regardless, I'm really looking forward to representing the class," Geldon said.
The executive board of the SGO will be taking applications for the open positions and will make a decision in the coming week, according to Oliveros-Larsen.
Oliveros-Larsen also said that the new positions were added because the freshman class has been under-represented in the Senate. Freshmen were traditionally unable to run until the committee elections in April.
At the candidate speeches last Wednesday, many students reported that the audience was noticeably small in size.
"Not many people knew about it," Koo said. "But the people that did come were very interested and supportive."
Issues raised by the candidates included finding TAP alternatives, a different Valentine meal plan and improved Internet service, financial aid, diversity and on-campus employment.
"I believe the most important issue in this election would be TAP Alternatives," said Palacios. "Many freshmen have expressed to me the need for another activity on TAP Nights that would be less crowded, stick to themes,and be a more comfortable situation to be a part of."
"I think that the most important issue, at this point, is pretty basic: who would the freshman class most like to see in a position of leadership?" said Scott-Craig. "We all share similar stances on the issues facing the college-the real question is who our classmates feel would best deal with those issues."
"I believe that the most important issue in the College Council election is the candidates' characters and dedication," said Smith. "This is a new environment for all of us and the only way to accomplish what we want is to get out there and go for it."
I would familiarize myself with the Council and keep an ear open to the freshman class, to determine whether or not they were content," said Williams.
For the Junior class, the issues included the parking shortage and summer storage alternatives.
"The most important responsibility of the class president, as well as one of the areas which the president does have the ability to affect, is creating a stronger sense of community through events and projects," said Vondy. "For me, this includes events created specifically for the junior class, events which include the other four colleges, and community service projects in the town of Amherst. Other issues which need improvement and which the SGO could conceivably impact are the current parking shortage and providing cheaper, reliable alternatives for summer storage."
With elections taking place tomorrow, candidates had little over a week to campaign. Most candidates created banners and posters to promote themselves.
Although most students reported the campaigning went relatively smoothly, some complained about the vandalism of the candidates' posters.
"I don't like how this campaign is giving high-level stress even to people who aren't running," Merril Shin '04 said. "Why are the majority of the candidates assuming that votes are going to be won over left and right by promising new party alternatives? There's more we care about than parties."
Several candidates could not be reached before publication.