For the third consecutive week, the ASI Senate meeting ended after only 25 minutes in session to help increase voter turnout during the run-off elections.
ASI Vice President Hironao Okahana told the Senate that the reason for the early dismissal was so that senators could “get out there and campaign.” Even if a senator isn’t running for a position asunder ASI, they were advised to use the early dismissal time to talk to students and show them the voter guide.
Last week, the senators were instructed to campaign for the elections, and the week before, the meeting was cut short due to the Executive Debate.
Sen. Shelena McClinton, who was chosen as ASI treasurer for the 2007-2008 school year, said senators are approaching students and asking them, “Did you know elections are going on? Here’s the handbook . . . check it out.”
This is the first year that ASI has put out a voter guide to inform students about the students running for ASI positions.
Okahana told the Senate that as of Tuesday, 352 students voted in the run-off election for ASI president.
He emphasized the importance of voting for candidates, adding, “We don’t want a president elected under 1,000 votes.”
Aside from campaign news, there was a small amount of content covered in this week’s Senate meeting. Sen. Lucy Montano, who was chosen as ASI vice president for the 2007-2008 school year, was also elected to be chair pro tempore. This position takes over the Senate meetings if the vice president is unable to preside. The chair pro tempore is also third in succession to the ASI president.
