Students head to polls today for UA elections

Polls are open today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hill House, 1920 Commons, the Quad and the Castle, with some open tomorrow as well. Elections for the 33 available seats on the Undergraduate Assembly begin today, with polls open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hill House, 1920 Commons, the Quadrangle and the Castle. Voting will continue tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Castle and 1920 Commons. All undergraduates -- including seniors -- can vote on a UA referendum that would create a new constitution. But only eligible juniors, sophomores and freshmen can cast votes for UA candidates. And students may only vote for candidates representing their home school. Two Nursing students are seeking the school's one available seat, eight Engineering students are competing for three seats, 12 Wharton students are vying for five available positions and 34 College students are competing for 16 seats. A total of 56 candidates are listed on the ballot, 23 of whom are incumbents -- a major increase over recent years. Last year saw only 34 total candidates for 25 seats. Only 25 percent of the student body voted in last spring's election. Many UA candidates and students predicted that the increase in the number of candidates this year -- most prominently among candidates with Greek affiliation -- would raise the number of voters. And both Greek leaders and UA incumbents sent out e-mail letters urging students to vote for their prospective slate of candidates. Incumbent candidate and College sophomore David Futer said he was not aware of the UA slate, adding that he did not support the idea of running on a slate. "People should be elected on their individual merit," Futer said. Few incumbents voiced concern with the high number of Greek candidates that they were competing against. "I would be disappointed if I lost, but that is what elections are all about," UA Treasurer and Wharton junior Steve Schorr said. "It is finally a comparative election." Futer said he would be disappointed if he lost the election, but was concerned with the incoming UA. "I hope the people that win take the issues seriously and don't give the UA a bad name," he said. Election results will be announced Thursday after the Nominations and Elections Committee rules on any violations of the Fair Practice Code. NEC Chairperson and Engineering junior Ben Goldberger said he hopes the violations hearing will run as smoothly as it did for the freshmen UA election in the fall. But last year, the NEC itself faced charges when then-College senior Mike Nadel accused the committee of "mishandling" the elections. Nadel's grievance with the NEC concerned the fact that students taking three courses at the University were not considered "full time" and therefore were not allowed to vote in the election. The NEC ruled against Nadel, allowing the election results to stand as counted.