Next month's student government elections should attract as much student interest as in recent years, despite obstacles and controversies that have arisen in the organization recently, a student official said.
Jordan Miller, the Associated Students of the University of Arizona elections commissioner, said she didn't think that recent complaints filed by feuding ASUA officials and the student body president being on leave would deter students from running for political office.
Application packets containing a copy of the elections code and letters for petition have been available since Thursday in the ASUA offices, said Miller, a senior majoring in French and marketing.
Students can run for any of the executive positions: student body president, executive vice president, administrative vice president and senator.
Those running for president must obtain 500 signatures, vice president officers must get 400 signatures and senators need 300 signatures by student sponsors in order to be recognized for candidacy, Miller said.
Packets must be turned in by Feb. 2. There was no official count on how many packets have been picked up as of yesterday afternoon, Miller said.
ASUA Treasurer Keven Barker, a finance senior who ran for executive vice president last year, said a role within ASUA has an impact on campus because it gives leadership opportunities to students to step up and assume the voice for others' needs.
He said a move for political office now can help for any future endeavors within the political landscape and "can be the spice to your college career."
For those students who may shy away from an executive position because they feel inexperienced or lack the creative mindset, Barker said not to look at the detailed position descriptions, but to rather think of ways to mold it to their own skills.
Sen. Rhonda Tubbs said senators starting off in ASUA don't know what to expect when they first start, but their position is unique because "the job changes every year, but you get the greatest learning experience."
Though it's not always the case, Barker said the characteristic required to be an effective leader within ASUA is to be a "people person."
"I encourage others to run because involvement is important in anything you do," Barker said. "What do you have to lose? You can only gain."
The application packets are available in the ASUA offices, located above the UofA Bookstore on the third level of the Student Union Memorial Center, Miller said.
Primary elections will take place Feb. 21 and Feb. 22. General elections will be held March 7 and March 8.