As students continued registering to run for Student Senate on Monday, Impact Party had a slight increase in applicants while Progress Party saw few students apply.
On the second floor of the Reitz Union, students presented members of the parties with their plans to improve UF as elected officials. UF Supervisor of Elections Eric Hobbs wrote in an email that 50 students qualified Monday, with 46 for Impact and four for Progress. As of Monday, no one has applied as an independent for Spring elections.
On Sunday, 45 students registered with Impact while no one qualified with Progress. Even with the small turnout, Progress President Casey Witte said he’s confident his party will be successful.
“A lot of the people who have come to Impact are referred by senators,” he said. “Our people have come organically.”
Gantt Meredith, a 19-year-old UF mechanical engineering freshman, registered with Progress after seeing a Facebook post from Witte, one of his friends. He said he’s never known how to join Student Government. He said he plans to ask students which library should be open 24/7, publish the survey’s results and make SG more transparent.
“While you think your vote might not matter, it does,” said Meredith, who wants to run for the College of Engineering seat.
Aaron Gordon, 18, a UF industrial and systems engineering freshman, said Impact was his best option.
Gordon, who applied to run for a sophomore seat, said he wants to make flex bucks, money on a student’s Gator 1 card allotted for food on campus, usable at off-campus restaurants located near UF.
“I wanted to make a difference beyond community service,” Gordon said.
The last day of interviewing is today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Activities and Involvement office.
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