With the conclusion of the USG elections, eight uncontested students take office. 17 positions remain empty and unsought.
The following students were elected:
- Keanan Anderson: President
- Mason Estes: Vice President
- Jenny Truong: Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Senator
- Abbie McAdams: Second Year Senator
- Johnny Wang: Second Year Senator
- Colton Arciniaga: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Senator
- Ava Johnson: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Senator
- John Seward: Korbel Senator
In response to the vacancies, USG is holding a special election from May 12 to May 22. Empty chairs are common post-election, but they have never been this numerous.
“Engagement has always been an issue,” said USG Elections Commissioner John Haddock. “In years past, we usually fill most positions….but on this scale, it is not the norm.”
As to why this election has been fruitless, Haddock remains unsure. The pandemic has seen the largest deviation from previous years, so he assumed that it was likely the cause. He cited uncertainty about the future of campus life as a symptom that ultimately led to the openings.
“For next year, I think that [the pandemic] is what kept people from making the jump into USG,” speculated Haddock.
Further involvement issues became apparent at newly-elected USG President Kenan Anderson and Vice President Mason Estes’s inaugural town hall. The Zoom event was intended to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the duo’s plans for their upcoming term.
The event acted as a replacement for the annual USG presidential debate—which was canceled due to the race being unchallenged this year. The town hall was poorly attended with a total of two spectators.
Despite the lack of student participation, Haddock remains convinced that students will step up and serve their community.
“I don’t want to imagine what this past year would have been like if we didn’t have folks in USG,” said Haddock. “The student perspective and voice is very important, and I hope to see more student engagement. I am really excited to see what this new generation of students can come up with.”
These upcoming days are crucial for collecting signatures for their petition. Senate candidates must gather 25 signatures from undergraduate students by May 12 to qualify for candidacy. Students will be unable to be on the ballot if they do not have an adequate amount of signatures by May 12.
Prospective senators must also attend virtual information sessions to validate their run. There are also required information sessions with the elections commissioner to explain the vacant roles. These sessions are held virtually, and a list of dates and times can be found here.
The deadline to register is May 12 at noon MDT. This is the last chance to make it on the USG ballot. The campaigning will begin directly after registration closes. Voting will take place starting May 19 at 9 a.m. MDT. The final day of voting and campaigning is May 22 at noon MDT. Email the USG elections commissioner (John.M.Haddock@du.edu) for more information on USG and the upcoming special election.
