Editor\u2019s note: It is The Oakland Post\u2019s policy to include all candidates in election coverage, provided they meet the required deadline for comment, including write-in candidates.<\/p>\n
Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC<\/a>) has officially opened voting for the 2026-2027 academic year. Voting<\/a> this year will close on Friday, April 3.<\/p>\n Students interested in voting can fill out the election Google Form<\/a>, which requires an Oakland University email address and GrizzID number.<\/p>\n Election results will be announced on Monday, April 6.<\/p>\n This year, there is only one official presential ticket on the ballot: the Black-Baker Ticket. On this ticket, Cullen Black is running for president, Autumn Baker for vice president and Valentine Fayette-\u00c9t\u00e9s for the speaker of the legislature position.<\/p>\n However, Marcus Johsnon, the incumbent president, is seeking re-election this year as a write-in presidential candidate. LJ Lasecki is running as the write-in vice president under Johnson. Johnson explained to The Oakland Post that the ticket fell short of the required number of valid signatures, thus leaving the candidacy off the official ballot.<\/p>\n \u2018While preparing for this election, our campaign encountered an issue during the signature verification process that resulted in us falling just short of the required number of valid signatures,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cThis determination was communicated after the filing deadline had passed, leaving no opportunity to correct what was ultimately a very small gap. As a result, we were deemed ineligible to appear on the ballot or participate in debates. Despite this setback, we have chosen to continue our campaign as a write-in option because we believe strongly in the ideas and priorities we are advocating for. This situation has also highlighted the importance of reviewing and improving election processes to ensure they are fair, transparent, and allow candidates a reasonable opportunity to meet requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n As a result, both the presidential and vice presidential debates<\/a> featured only one candidate. The vice presidential debate, held on March 24 in the Lake Huron Room, and the presidential debate held on March 25 in Meeting Room 125, included only the Black-Baker ticket.<\/p>\n When asked about the biggest issue the campaign is running on, Black-Baker pointed to safety.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important issue facing our community is safety. Law enforcement groups are intimidating, kidnapping, and murdering our fellow Americans. Communities are coming together and risking their lives to protect each other all over the country. As morally conscious people, we all have a duty to provide for our compatriots and as representatives, we have a specific duty to empower our constituents. To encourage their discussion and collaboration, to demand their conclusions be realized,\u201d the Black-Baker slate said.<\/p>\n When asked the same question, the Johsnon-Lasecki write-in slate pointed to accessibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important issue we\u2019re running on is accessibility, both in terms of resources and representation. Too many students feel disconnected from Student Congress or unaware of what it can do for them. Our policies focus on: Expanding access to essential resources like basic needs support and academic tools, increasing transparency through regular updates and open communication, creating structured opportunities for student input, including community-based committees and forums and strengthening accountability so that initiatives don\u2019t just get announced\u2014they get completed,\u201d Johsnon-Lasecki write-in slate said.<\/p>\n This week, Oakland University students will have the opportunity to share their voices at the polls.<\/p>\n \u201cA vote for Black\/Baker is a vote to heal the culture in Student Congress. A vote to revitalize our campus and build strength and support between us, to include all voices in the decisions that affect our school and to give those voices real power,\u201d the Black-Baker slate said.<\/p>\n \u201cStudents should support our campaign because we bring both experience and a clear plan for improvement. We understand how Student Congress operates and how the university operates, but we\u2019re not satisfied with maintaining the status quo we\u2019ve been given. We\u2019re focused on results and making sure students see real outcomes, not just promises,\u201d Johsnon-Lasecki write-in slate said.<\/p>\n For more information about the Black-Baker slate, students can follow the campaign on Instagram<\/a> or visit its Linktree.<\/a> More information about the Johsnon-Lasecki\u2019s write-in slate is available on its Instagram<\/a> page or website.<\/a><\/p>\n