SGO elections draw little competition
By CHRISTINE FRANKS, News Editor
With Student Government Organization (SGO) elections eight days away, many of the positions are only being sought by a single candidate.

Among the uncontested elections are the positions of SGO president, treasurer and recording secretary, as well as Class of 2003 president.

"It's too bad that not a lot of people are running," Gaby Aronow '04 said. "People complain and complain about how things are, but no one is willing to step up and do something about it."

Some students said that they felt the SGO did a poor job of advertising the upcoming elections.

"I didn't even know we were having elections until I saw a poster in the bathroom today," said Fred Sanchez '04. "I was really surprised because it seems like we just had them a little while ago."

"We plan to do a lot more publicity closer to the election," SGO President Steve Ruckman '01 said. "The candidates will also do a lot of it themselves with campaign posters, but right now it's pretty early."

Michelle Oliveros-Larsen '02, currently serving as SGO vice president, is running unopposed for the presidency.

"When people need change, they do something about it. I think this year people trust me to do a good job," Oliveros-Larsen said. "The only thing that would make me uncomfortable is if people feel they lack options because I'm running unopposed."

Last year, five candidates sought the position of SGO president.

"It seems to me that people don't have any major complaints about this year, so they will be happy to see the same people in office again," Ruckman said. "The community is saying, 'keep doing your best.'"

Students are able to enter a "no vote" if they decide that the candidate or candidates running are not qualified to serve in the position which they are seeking.

Ruckman added that in order to encourage students to participate in the election, laptops will be provided for voting in the Keefe Campus Center. He said that some people are worried about the success of online voting and that the upcoming elections will serve as a test of the turnout using the system.

"If the student body feels that the online elections don't work, we can always take them away, but so far that hasn't happened," he said.

This year, no students are seeking the position of SGO corresponding secretary. According to Ruckman, this is possibly the first time in Amherst history that no students have run for the position.

Ruckman added that while there is nothing in the SGO constitution to govern such a situation, he believes it is necessary for students to vote for the candidates of such an important position. Accordingly, he said that the SGO will push back the deadline for statements of intent until April 18 and that the position will be voted upon as a part of the April 26 committee elections.

Issue 20, Submitted 2001-03-28 10:53:46