Elections Commission Archives - Student Government Association Blog

Student Government Association Blog

Your Student Body. Your Student Voice. SGA.

How to Follow Campus Elections

by

Hey Bears!  

This blog will outline three pieces of advice for you all to follow the upcoming spring SGA Election and prepare to vote. If you have questions about the election, please reach out to SGA Chief Elections Commissioner Emily Chandler ec6364s@MissouriState.edu. Chief Chandler oversees all details related to the Spring election including the candidates, elections code, and polling stations. Additionally, you can expect updates about the election on our Instagram, which is @mostatesga.  

  1. Understand the lingo. Campus elections involve terminology that you may or may not be familiar with. Below you can find definitions to key terms that are important to know.
General Terms
    • Ticket – A team of three individuals who have agreed to run a campaign together, and work alongside one another for the subsequent year. For Student Body includes a Student Body President Candidates, Student Body Vice President Candidate, and Campaign Manager. For Senior Class tickets, this includes a Senior Class Candidate, and Campaign Manager. The Campaign Manager for a Student Body ticket traditionally is appointed Chief of Staff if elected, but this is not required.
    • Platform – A list of projects, and initiatives a ticket hopes to complete, if elected.
    • Elections Code – An SGA document outlining all rules for the SGA Election. This document is open to the public and can be found on the SGA website. 
    • SGA Leadership – This often refers to the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, Senior Class President, and Chief of Staff. This team is not required by the SGA Constitution, but often works together to make decisions for SGA, and the broader student body. 
Voting Terms
    • Abstain – Declining to vote on one question/issue on a ballot.
    • Vote No Confidence – A vote that expresses a lack of support for a candidate or issue on the ballot. 
  2. Follow campaign accounts and review each tickets platform. Campaign accounts are where you can learn more about Candidates.  Platforms are your way to know what you are voting for, and what Candidates hope to accomplish if elected. 
    • Student Body President/Vice President Campaign (on instagram) – @votecollinsam
    • Senior Class President Campaign (on instagram) – @Bekah4seniors
  3. Ask the candidates questions. Asking questions is a great way to better understand the Candidates. The perfect time to ask questions would be a Candidate Open Forum.  
    • Candidate open forums will be on March 25th, 2025, at 7pm in PSU 313.

2025 Elections Season Information

by

The 2025 Student Body Election season is officially underway! Here’s everything you need to know to stay informed this semester. 

Each spring, we elect a new Student Body President and Vice President, who also serve as the President and Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Additionally, we elect a Senior Class President, a key role in engaging and supporting the senior class throughout their final year at Missouri State University. Each ticket also includes a campaign manager to support their campaign process.  

Candidates for these positions will begin their campaigns soon, so keep an eye out for their announcements. To appear on the ballot, those running for Student Body President and Vice President must collect 500 signatures from MSU students. Senior Class President candidates must gather 200 signatures. You may be approached to sign a candidate’s petition—this simply allows their ticket to appear on the ballot for the election. 

Once the candidates qualify, campaigning will begin. There will be many opportunities to hear the candidates’ platforms and decide who you believe will best serve Missouri State. Candidates will launch their social media accounts, and a debate will take place on March 11th at 7:00 PM in Plaster Student Union Room 313. “Blitz Week,” starting on March 28th, will provide a dedicated time for candidates to actively promote their tickets across campus. During this week, they can engage with students, hang banners, chalk sidewalks, and more. 

Voting will take place from April 7th at 8:00 AM to April 11th at 5:00 PM via My.MissouriState.com. Along with casting your vote for candidates, you’ll also have the chance to approve updates to the SGA Constitution—the governing document for the organization. The ballot will also include Wyrick Proposals, which are construction projects aimed at improving our campus. 

Election results and the outcomes of the proposals will be announced on the evening of April 11th. 

Make your voice heard this election season and help shape the future of Missouri State University! 

Spring Elections

by

It is time for you to voice your opinion in the 2020-2021 student body election. There are many things on this year’s ballot and they are all important. The ballot contains the candidates running for Student Body President, Vice President, and Senior Class President, as well as, a new mental health student fee, a Wyrick project, and a senior class gift.

Mental Health Fee

The proposed new student fee of $8 per semester would support hiring more counselors and expand mental health resources to the Counseling Center. Missouri State has experienced a rapid increase in student demands for counseling over the past several years. During the past two academic years, there has been a waiting list, and in fall 2019, it reached 203 students. I encourage you to vote yes to support hiring more counselors and mental health resources for the counseling center.

Wyrick Project

This year’s Wyrick project is to combine the Multicultural Resource Center and the Annex and move it to the, now, Office of Student Engagement space. This would then move the Office of Student Engagement to the level one game center. Currently, the MRC and the Annex are separated. Combining both locations into one and locating it in the PSU right across Starbucks will increase cultural engagement. This project will provide students a place to have a central location among other campus resources, more efficient space utilization within the PSU, and more space with the opportunity for visibility. I encourage you all to vote yes for this project that will enhance the student experience at Missouri State!

Senior Class Gift

Lastly, On this ballot is the Senior Class Gift vote and only Juniors and Seniors can vote for this issue. This year, we are doing a painted bear statue with Campus Recreation. The Bear Statues are the vision of President Smart, and the FRC is one of the most prominent buildings on campus. The Bear will feature a design (being finished now) that encapsulates the perseverance of our class, especially through these current times. I hope you vote in favor, and help leave the Class of 2020 legacy at Missouri State!

Student Body Candidates:

Cole Howerton, President and Chelsey Small, Vice President

First up, we have Cole Howerton running for Student Body President and Chelsey Small running for Vice President! Renee Sinclair is serving as their Campaign Manager. Cole Howerton is a sophomore studying History. He is the current Director of Public Affairs for SGA. Cole wants to make campus inclusive for all students and help improve everyone’s individual campus experience. Chelsey Small is a junior studying Exercise and Movement Science. After being a SOAR Leader and serving as Director of Health and Wellness for SGA, she has learned how to use her voice to make a change in the community. Chelsey wants to help students at MSU feel the power of their voice too.

Together, they will combine their experiences to impact Mental Health, Inclusivity, and Communication at MSU. They want all students to feel confident in their resources and their chances for success. Most importantly, they want to hear your voice and improve Missouri State by your choice. Text 417-319-1257 to anonymously send them your ideas for improving MSU! Follow their social media to learn more about their platform:

Instagram: @yourvoiceyourchoicemsu

Facebook: Your Voice Your Choice Missouri State

Watch their campaign video here: https://youtu.be/ExwS2p8WvL0

Tara Orr, President and Blake Haynes, Vice President

Next up, we have Tara Orr running for Student Body President and Blake Haynes running for Vice President! Apryl Myers is serving as their Campaign Manager. Tara Orr is from Blue Springs, Missouri and is involved in with Student Government Association as the Chief of Staff, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and other leadership programs. Tara’s involvement throughout the years has motivated her to put her skills to the test and run for student body president. Blake is also from Blue Springs, Missouri. Over time, he created a meaningful relationship with his running partner. He discovered that both of them were first-generation students with the ambition to make an impact during their college experience. Blake has been a part of the Student Government Association since 2017, an active member in Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity, a University Ambassador, and on the Greek Week Committee. As his roles became more eminent and his drive flourished, Blake decided the time was right to pour into the campus community like those who have poured into him.

Tara and Blake want to use their past experiences and innovate Missouri State! They want to focus on the importance of Student Success, Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Wellness if elected. Through these main points, they would like to increase opportunities for students to be the best prepared for post-college. They want to better diversity and inclusion efforts and make sure student wellness is at the forefront to better Missouri State.

If you would like further information about Tara Orr and Blake Haynes platform ideas, you can follow them on Instagram: @Innovatemostate, Facebook: Innovate MO State, and Twitter: @innovate_mo

Allison Garrett, Senior Class President

Lastly, Allison Garrett is running for 2020-21 Senior Class President of Missouri State University. She is a junior studying Political Science and Communications and currently serves as Speaker Pro Tempore on Student Government Association. Her previous leadership experience includes Chief Elections Commissioner on SGA, Vice President of Membership Development on the Panhellenic Executive Board, and various positions in her sorority. She also currently works in the Office of Student Affairs as a Student Assistant to Dr. Dee Siscoe. These experiences have instilled in her a love of university traditions and campus unity, which is what Allison wants to bring to the role of Senior Class President.

Her campaign theme is “What’s your Legacy?” The concept of a legacy is central in a student’s last year of undergrad, and Allison wanted to inspire that in the Class of 2021 during her campaign. You can connect with Allison on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @allison4mostate!

I hope all of this was informative for you. You can participate in the election by going to elections.missouristate.edu. Make your voice be heard and be a part of the change that is happening at Missouri State. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at Abdillahi1997@live.missouristate.edu!

SGA Announces the Results of the Student Body Election and Wyrick Proposals

by

After an official vote count, SGA would like to announce the results of the Spring 2014 elections. They are as follows:

Student Body President and Vice President: Jordan McGee/Addison Reed

Senior Class President: Cody Miller

The Wyrick Fund is generated through a $3 fee paid each semester by all full-time students along with $75,000 from the Office of the President. The current amount in the fund is $342,235.90. The following Wyrick proposals passed:

1) Campus Security Camera with a projected cost of 114,400

2) Construction of net around the Betty and Bobby Recreation Fields with a projected cost of $144,650

3) PSU Outdoor Tables with a projected cost of 82,483.50

4) Bear Line Shuttle Stop Bench with a projected cost of $2,264.90.

5) Key Card Reader at Betty and Bobby Recreation Fields with a projected cost of $25,520

Due to the limited funds of the Wyrick Fund, only the first three proposals will be funded.

Thank you to all the Missouri State students who voted in this election.

 

SGA Commissions Seeking Student Commissioners

by

The Student Government Association’s Elections, Wyrick and Sustainability Commissions are currently seeking students to serve during the 2012-13 academic year.

The Elections Commission reviews the Elections Manual, secures a timeline for the following election and researches how to increase voter turnout. The Elections Commission also reviews petitions for candidacy, evaluates actions that potentially violate the Elections Manual and validates the election results.

Student members of the Wyrick Commission will assist in researching and approving or rejecting proposals for projects submitted directly by students, such as the Parking Counters in Bear Park South.

Similarly, students serving on the Sustainability Commission are charged with assisting in the development of sustainability initiatives. This includes distributing the Sustainability Fund for projects, previously including the bike rental program and hydration stations.

Student commissioners cannot currently serve in the Student Government Association or be the President or Vice President of any other student organization.

Those interested in joining any of the commissions are encouraged to email SGA@missouristate.edu/

For more information, please contact Riana Sears, Chief Communications Officer at Riana21@live.missouristate.edu.