Upon its return from summer break, Baylor Student Government is kicking off the fall semester with upcoming freshman elections. They will start Monday, when the filing period begins, and end Sept. 20 with the campus-wide election.
With several freshman positions now vacant, including freshman class president, freshman class vice president, freshman class treasurer/secretary and positions in the Student Senate and Student Court, the current officers hope to encourage the new freshman class to run for election and get involved with the organization.
“Freshman elections are a great way to get involved really early on campus,” said Old River-Winfree senior Joel Polvado, student body internal vice president. “It’s a really cool way to make a difference and to have a say in the operations of the student body, and it’s a great way to be able to speak into the process, leave a lasting impact and be a part of something that’s bigger than yourself.”
The positions that Student Government seeks to fill require the freshman class officers to work together throughout the semester on a campus project that encourages school spirit and involvement, in addition to weekly meetings and other commitments.
When Dallas sophomore Hannah Causey, head of Student Government’s public relations committee, arrived at Baylor as a freshman, she joined Student Government immediately.
“It brought me into an amazing community with people I never would have had the opportunity to meet,” Causey said.
While several members admitted that the process can be overwhelming at times, they want to reassure students that it is worth it in the end.
“I would just do it. You’re a freshman right now, it’s not going to hurt you, and it’s a lot of fun,” Buda senior Justin Plescha, electoral commissioner, said. “It’s a big process, but you make a lot of friends and meet a lot of really great people.”
Filing begins for freshman candidates on Monday at 8 a.m., with filing forms due Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. to the Student Government Office in the Bill Daniel Student Center along with a $10 in-cash filing fee. More information on how to get involved can be found on the official Baylor Student Government page.
“My best advice is to keep true to deadlines. The electoral commission is very hard on their deadlines, so be proactive in turning everything in. Get your friends out to vote and run a good race,” Polvado said.
