This week, students will have the opportunity to have a say in how the university is run.

Elections for Student Association senators will be held today and tomorrow around campus.

Voting booths will be set up at the Holmes Student Center, the Founders Memorial Library, DuSable and Barsema Halls, and the Rec center.

Patrick Frierson, SA election commissioner, hopes for a strong voter turnout this year.

“I’ve been doing my part to raise awareness among the student body about the election,” Frierson said. “We’re hoping to have a great turnout.”

This year, SA has teamed with the Campus Activities Board to coordinate senate ballots with ballots for the Homecoming court. This year, when students vote for king and queen, they’ll have the opportunity to vote for senators as well, as both will be on the same ballot.

“You’re paying a certain amount of money to be here and a certain amount of that money goes toward everything,” Frierson said. “Students should want to have a say-so in that spending or at least know what their money is being spent on.”

SA separates DeKalb into five separate districts, with lines drawn depending on where a given area is located in relation to the Kishwaukee River. Ideally, eight senators are voted in from each district, bringing the total number of possible senators to 40.

However, this doesn’t mean that there is an equal number of nominees for each district. One district only has three candidates running and another has 11, with the other three districts falling somewhere in between. In total, there are 35 candidates on the ballot, with room for students to write-in candidates if they choose.

Frierson said he wants to be open to answer questions from any and all students, whether or not they are involved in student government.

“I’m doing the best job I can to make sure things run smoothly,” Frierson said.

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