With the fall Student Council representative elections quickly approaching, the candidates are stepping their campaigns into high gear.
Polls will open for voting on Monday and will remain open through Wednesday.
Eleven official candidates are vying for four College positions, while no official candidates are running for the one Engineering position.
Campaign issues range from solving the problems of off-Grounds housing to University safety issues. One candidate advocates a living wage for University employees.
Student Council President Micah Schwartz said midterm elections are beneficial to the student body because they allow for new concerns to be addressed by the competing candidates.
"I am pleased to see so many students running in this election," Schwartz said. "The quantity of candidates will ensure a heated election, and I am confident that the most deserving students will emerge victorious."
Schwartz also noted how the fall elections are a good trial run for the four first years and two transfers who are running.
Council Elections Chair Julie Teater emphasized that the lack of an Engineering candidate does not necessarily mean that the position will be vacant.
"Three or four people have shown interest in running and can thus run a write-in campaign," she said.
Write-in candidates still can receive endorsements from organizations but cannot post their biography on the Council Web site. Write-in candidates only have to beat their opponents by a margin of 10 votes to win.
Citing historically low fall voter turn out, Council Chief of Staff Sarah Jobe stressed how imperative voting is to the University's principles of self-government.
"It's really important to understand that Student Council is [the students'] voice," Jobe said. "We're only effective if students make their voice heard."
Council Executive Vice President Ronnie Mayhew also said students need to vote.
"Twenty percent of the College's representatives will be elected next week and that amount can often sway the outcome of legislation," he said.
The 11 students running for the College representative are Eli DeJarnette, Sarah Dhere, Kate Higbee, Bill Keithler, David Reid, Wyatt Robinson, Brian Siebenburger, Tiffany Valeriano, Michael Patrick Wade, Tyler Wasilition and Ruthie Yow.
Teater said students can vote online at www.uvastudentcouncil.com/vote beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday until 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
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