This Sunday marks the deadline for potential student-government candidates to turn in their forms, which include a petition requiring hundreds of student signatures.
But most students won't know this until tonight, when the Nominations and Elections Committee, which oversees student government elections, holds an information session for interested students.
The short time frame isn't much different from previous years, according to NEC chairwoman Laura Brookover. However, the NEC made greater student participation a priority this year, and the lack of formal publicity before this week is disappointing.
Brookover noted that the NEC has been pushing information about student government all year, and did make a recent pitch to Undergraduate Assembly Steering, which means that students involved in clubs may have gotten notice prior to Tuesday's e-mail about tonight's meeting. But for many students, this was not the case.
Next year, starting an advertising campaign immediately before spring break would give the NEC more time to get students not already involved in student government interested.
With that said, though, we urge students, regardless of prior involvement, to consider taking part in student government. The NEC has made running more accessible by halving the number of student signatures needed for certain positions, and also eliminating the campaigning period, to make sure that those who enter the race late are not at a disadvantage.
Student government members act as advocates on behalf of student needs; the more students that run, the better chance there is that as many interests as possible will be represented.
To learn about how to run for a position in student government, the information session will be held tonight at 8 p.m. in Huntsman Hall, Room 240.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
