RUSA election launches with campaign week
With anticipation over the University student body choosing positions for their student government, the Rutgers University Student Assembly, for the first time, members convened in the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus last night to announce their candidacy for the April 27th elections.
Chairman of the Rutgers University Student Assembly Elections Committee Ben West said the external elections will be successful. He is eager to involve the whole student body in the election process.
"I'm excited that a lot of students will have the opportunity to elect their [RUSA] president," said West, a Rutgers College senior. "I think it is going to make the whole process a lot more exciting and fun."
RUSA Chair Werner Born said he is also anticipating success with the external elections, which will produce a different student government for the University.
"I think it's a step in the right direction to have all students be able to vote on who the RUSA president is and the RUSA vice president and treasurer [as well]," said Born, a School of Engineering senior. "I'm very excited for that and it's going to be really interesting to see a New Brunswick-wide campaign not just for one campus but for all five."
West informed the members of RUSA there are certain campaigning guidelines that must be followed to ensure a legitimate and fair election process.
The election guidelines allow for the distribution of printed materials, advertising in campus media and communication via e-mail, social networking sites, blogs or campaign websites, West said.
One of the guidelines says any candidate for RUSA chair cannot exceed $200 for their campaign expenses.
"If you are spending money, make sure you document your expenses," he said. "If you are unable to furnish these documents if you are appealed, you will be expelled from the election."
Internal Affairs Committee Chair Josh Slavin said if anyone witnesses a violation of the election guidelines, they can submit an appeal, and the appeals committee will review the candidate's campaign procedure.
"We'll be fair and reasonable [but] if someone is running, they should know the rules," he said.
Some RUSA members were quick to announce their candidacy for the position of chair, including Sam Firmin, Yousef Saleh and John Aspray.
Each candidate provided different reasons for why they would make an effective leader for not just RUSA, but the whole student body.
Firmin, Residence Hall Association president and a RUSA representative, said he feels student government lacks motivation and energy, which is something he is focusing on.
"Motivating our student leaders in order to better advocate for our students is crucial, especially in these times where budget cuts are happening," said Firmin, a School of Enviromental and Biological Sciences sophomore. "I also feel like my campaign, in a nutshell, concentrates on empowering and uniting our students in general or achieving our advocacy initiative."
RUSA Vice Chair Saleh said he brings a breadth of experience to the table, involving himself in every single facet of student government at the University.
Saleh, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, started off in the Quads residence halls on Livingston campus as the vice president and then the president. He has held various positions in RUSA, such as the RUSA treasurer, and he is now RUSA vice chair.
"I'm very involved with the community [and] I have tried to mesh myself in all different aspects of the university to be the best student government official I can be," Saleh said.
Saleh said he is campaigning on a five-pillar system, where he is promoting advocacy, excellence, incentives, outreach and unity.
"I've seen the differences in each [student government] organization. I've actually visited other organizations to see how they run, their leadership styles, what makes them work and why RUSA is not working," he said. "RUSA needs a good foundation for this new constitution and I feel that I'm the man to deliver it."
Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Aspray said he is also looking to unite the student body, which has been a missing element in student government.
"I'm looking to unite students behind the plan of action," said Aspray, a School of Arts and Sciences junior. "One of the problems with RUSA in the past is that I don't feel we've ever had a clear objective."
Aspray said with his plan of action, he hopes to tackle the tough budget cuts the University is experiencing and connect the gap between the New Brunswick and University communities. But there is a certain team he needs for this to happen, he said.
"People generally go to student government because they … are broadly seeking a leadership experience," Aspray said. "I'm trying to get people who are interested in working on specific issues because I feel that other people in the past haven't necessarily been focused on working on certain issues."
Each candidate vowed to stay within the election guidelines but said they are using some of the same methods to promote their candidacy for chair, like the Internet.
"I have a website professionally done that's going to hit the students, and they're really going to resonate with the ideas and all the plans that I have," Firmin said. "I'm going to have other ways of connecting with the students, making sure they know what I'm doing."
Saleh said he is also launching his website as soon as tomorrow and will use Facebook ads, flyers, rallies and columns in The Daily Targum. But he said he would definitely not exceed the $200 spending limit.
"As RUSA treasurer I have been able to see how to get the most bang for my buck, which gives me a little bit more advantage over everyone," he said. "I have been fighting for external elections since my sophomore year and I am just glad this is going to happen."
Aspray said besides using the Internet and creating flyers, he will actively involve himself in the University community by seeking out potential student leaders and tackling the issues they want addressed.
"When you mention these issues, there are actually people who would not only vote for you because you want to work on these issues but actually want to work on them themselves," he said. "People should be actively sought after as future student leaders and incorporated as volunteers."
The campaigning for various RUSA positions began immediately after last night's meeting and will continue until Election Day on April 27, according to the RUSA Election Guidelines.
Firmin said his main goal is to make sure the newly implemented RUSA constitution is upheld and maintained for future members and the student body.
"I feel like we have this great constitution now," he said. "Now it is time for us to enact on the constitution and make sure it is upheld and make sure we stay in the right direction."
Saleh also said the new constitution must be upheld. He is determined to make sure that happens.
"RUSA needs a good foundation for this new constitution and I feel that I'm the man to deliver it," he said. "The Saleh administration will probably be the most prestigious and efficient student government — period."
