There's going to be some stiff competition for student government this week.
This semester has seen a dramatic increase in the number of freshmen candidates vying for both class-board and Undergraduate Assembly positions.
With 41 candidates for the freshman class board and 29 candidates for the UA, there has been a 32-percent overall increase in the number of candidates.
Student government began the year with a publicity blitz, going door-to-door, updating Web sites and holding meetings for freshmen.
The NEC, the student group that runs elections, and the UA, the umbrella organization for all of undergraduate student government, pointed to several factors that may have resulted in the influx of candidates this year.
Vice Chairwoman for Education Carrie Alexander "gave a dynamic presentation at the student-government info session," NEC Chairwoman and College senior Laura Brookover said.
NEC Vice Chairman of Elections and College junior Dan Strigenz said it helped that UA members were present at the town-hall meeting held during New Student Orientation.
And UA chairman Brett Thalmann pointed out the work done by the NEC.
"I definitely want to give credit to the NEC for advertising, getting the word out," Thalmann, a Wharton senior, said.
Freshman candidates agreed that they definitely noticed the publicity efforts of student government.
Freshman class board presidential candidate and Engineering freshman Matt Louie said he was sitting in his room when "several guys came in with an informational pamphlet." He also received a follow-up e-mail.
Other candidates were alerted to the possibility of running through more obscure means.
"I just heard about it through the grapevine," freshman class board presidential candidate and College freshman Mike Tate said.
Whatever the cause, the striking increase in freshman candidates promises a hotly contested race, with candidacy flyers already littering campus from Qdoba to DRL. Voting begins Thursday, Sept. 21, at 12:01 a.m. on Penn InTouch.
Freshman Class Board:
- 12 candidates for president
- 5 candidates for vice president
- 4 candidates for vice president for corporate sponsorship
- 6 candidates for treasurer
- 2 candidates for secretary
- 6 candidates for School of Arts and Sciences representative (2 will be chosen)
- 3 candidates for Wharton representative
- 2 candidates for School of Engineering and Applied Science representative
- 1 candidate for School of Nursing representative
Freshman UA Representatives
n 29 candidates (8 will be chosen)
