In preparation for the upcoming Executive Cabinet and Class Cabinet elections, there will be an Executive Cabinet and Class Cabinet interest meeting on Feb. 17 for anyone interested in running for a position. Attending the interest meeting is mandatory for those planning to run for a student government position. Those who are still considering candidacy are also encouraged to attend. The meeting will take place in the Kinlaw Boardroom from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
The meeting will outline the responsibilities for Executive Cabinet and Class Cabinet positions as well as provide details on the campaigning process. The first half of the meeting will be dedicated to information on the Executive Cabinet roles and the second half will focus on Class Cabinet positions. Margaret Tredway, Vice President of Student Governance, is in charge of the election process this year and will be speaking at the interest meeting as well as guiding candidates through the next steps of the campaigning process.
Tredway explained that after the conclusion of the interest meeting, students will be able to begin the process of campaigning for the elections which will take place on March 3.
“Depending on whether you are in Class Cabinet or Executive Cabinet, you’ll need to collect 25 to 50 signatures of students as an endorsement. From there, you’re going to get a signature from student life and the registrar’s office to say that you are in good academic standing and that you’ve signed the statement of faith of Asbury,” said Tredway. “Then you’ll bring all that paperwork to me, and I’ll give you the go-ahead to start running.”
In order to run for any of the Executive Cabinet positions, students must have a GPA of at least 2.75 and have junior or senior status class standing during their tenure. Applicants for Class Cabinet positions must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 and belong to the class they wish to represent. While students will need to campaign to garner support, the way in which they do that is up to them.
“As for the campaigning process, it is completely up to the candidate…it is their money, their willpower, and whatever posters they want it is completely up to them,” said Tredway.
Within the Executive Cabinet there are seven positions that students are able to run for. The seven positions mirror the positions that are available in Class Cabinet. These include Student Body President, who is in charge of Asbury Student Congress (ASC) and is the face of the Executive Cabinet. The Vice President of Student Government Association oversees proposals and branch meetings related to campus concerns, including athletics, safety, and parking. The Vice President for Clubs and Congress Operations is in charge of clubs and the money associated with them. The Vice President for Spiritual Life is in charge of coordinating chapel and spiritual life events. The Vice President of Intercultural Life is in charge of intercultural life events and working with alliances such as the Black or Latino student alliances.
The remaining two positions, Executive Treasurer and Executive Publicist, are hired roles. The Executive Treasurer manages budgets, while the Executive Publicist oversees graphics and announcements.
“The Publicist and the Treasurer are hired positions, they do not give speeches in chapel. They are still required to come to the interest meeting and go through the same process of getting signatures. It is preferred that they have either Canva or money experience in Excel but that is not required,” said Tredway.
Election speeches for Executive Cabinet positions will be held in chapel on March 3. Class Cabinet speeches will take place on the map side of the Stuce, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on the same day. Voting will take place through an email sent to students’ emails and will be open 24 hours after the conclusion of election speeches. The election party will be on Thursday, March 6 and will be a time for candidates to give a speech to the student body.
While Tredway explained that her position as Vice President of Student Governance takes around ten to fifteen hours of her time a week, she said that being on Executive Cabinet has taught her invaluable lessons.
“It has grown me academically and professionally and has really opened my perspective to different lives on campus. Just getting to know a lot about campus life that you wouldn’t just know as a student such as all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into making the buildings run. There is always a story behind the story, it’s never what you see at face value.”
Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenwick.
