Student Government first-year representative campaigns began last week, and 17 students across four colleges will be on the ballot. Elections will take place on Wednesday, and results will be announced Sept. 28.<\/p>\n
Online voting opens at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and closes at 5 p.m. that same day. All first-year students are eligible to vote. Winners will be announced Monday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. in the WCP Auditorium.<\/p>\n
All freshmen and undergraduate transfer students are eligible to run for first-year representative. The two candidates with the most votes will be elected to join the larger SG assembly, where they can join committees and vote on bills on behalf of their first-year constituents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the first-year representative elections website, \u201cIt\u2019s a chance to get involved early \u2014 run for office, campaign for a candidate, or cast your vote \u2014 and start making your mark on the UT Austin community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Candidates are not allowed to damage University property or remove signage endorsing other candidates. They cannot spend more than $250 and must submit two financial disclosures to ensure financial transparency. If they fail to submit either of the financial disclosures by the posted deadlines<\/a>, they may be disqualified.<\/p>\n All candidates were required to attend a seminar on Sept. 14 to learn more about financial disclosures, campaigning rules and complaint filing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Attendees heard from last year\u2019s first-year representatives Ford Myers and Tanishka Chawla about their campaign strategies. SG President Kiera Dixon and Vice President Jaden Watt also spoke to the candidates and offered advice.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAll of you are doing this for a reason, you have a \u2018why,\u2019 so just remember that throughout this process,\u201d Dixon said. \u201cThere\u2019s going to be days when you\u2019re probably tired, and you\u2019re embarrassed \u2026 but just remember why you want to do this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Dixon and Watt said candidates should be proud to participate in the elections, which they hoped to emphasize more this year to decrease student apathy with SG.<\/p>\n \u201cPutting yourself out there \u2026 is an extraordinarily difficult thing to do, so kudos to you all, \u201d Watt said. \u201cThere will be ups. There will be downs. Just keep going. Just keep pushing through.\u201d<\/p>\n