Students vie for ASMSU government positions

It’s election season. ASMSU candidates are beginning to kick-off their campaigns as they vie for positions within the student government. Posters promoting the candidates have begun to pop up around campus and social media accounts are being mobilized to generate support. 

ASMSU is a student-led facet of campus leadership, and includes executive, legislative and judicial branches. “The big work of what we do is policy, managing budgets, and protecting student rights,” said Marianne Brough, director of the Office of Student Engagement. 

The executive branch is entrusted with an extensive list of responsibilities outlined in the ASMSU bylaws and constitution, and is the face of student government. Senate seats are apportioned to the different colleges of MSU and the delegates represent the interests of their respective constituents by debating and passing resolutions and bills on the Senate floor. 

The student body votes for the candidates it would like to see in office in a two-stage election. The primaries will be held on Tuesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 6. The general elections will be held on April 19 and April 20. Each stage of voting is accompanied by a round of debates.

Maintaining the election’s integrity is of the utmost importance. There are several guidelines and rules candidates must follow when campaigning in order to uphold ASMSU’s values, including limitations on where posters/flyers can be put up and when candidates can promote themselves. “We hire a student elections director, so a student is in charge of the process,” Brough said. “The Supreme Court [of ASMSU] will also review disputes and challenges. Anyone on campus can submit a dispute.” 

Brough advocates for students of MSU understanding the ins and outs of ASMSU. “Campus culture is created by students. If we want MSU to be a place that makes everyone feel included and like they belong, and have the basic services and support they need, then they should be invested in what ASMSU is doing,” Brough said. “Student government is the policy and fiscal and program representation for what students want to see on campus. You elect the officials and those officials manage more than a million dollars of student activity fees.” 

Visit the ASMSU website to find out how to vote or stop by the ASMSU office on the second floor of the SUB to learn more about your elected officials. Candidate applications are still open with a deadline of Tuesday, April 5.