Saint Ben’s Senate

General Elections 2017-2018

General Elections 2017-2018 Timeline

March 22nd Packets made available. March 31st Packets due by 5:00pm. April 3rd-7th Official Campaigning for Candidates. April 6th Election Speeches in Gorecki Fireside at 7:00 PM. April 7th Election Day! Voting online will take place from 8:00am to 8:00pm. April 8th New Senators will be announced.

Saint Ben’s Senate General Elections 2017-2018 Senate meetings are every Wednesday night at 5pm. Each candidate must have Wednesday nights (From 5pm-8pm) free. For more information on each position please consult the attached SBS Constitution, or visit our webpage through the csbsju.edu website. You are expected to speak with current senators, specifically the senator who currently holds the office in which you are interested in to inquire about the senate experience, position responsibilities, etc. Submitting a Platform

Platforms must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday, March 31st, 2017 to [email protected]. Both essay and bullet-style platform is appropriate. The platform should reflect your understanding of the responsibilities of the position as well as your leadership abilities. A sample platform is attached for reference.

It is MANDATORY that the following materials be submitted along with the Senate Platform. Saint Ben’s Senate

General Elections 2017-2018 1. Declaration of Candidacy 2. Permission to Post on Web-site 3. Photo Headshot of Candidate Campaigning Guidelines

A. Campaigning may begin after the announcement of candidates by the Saint Benedict’s Senate.

B. No more than ten (10) signs with a maximum size of 14" x 22" may be publicly posted on behalf of the candidate. Joint campaigning is allowed but no candidate’s name may appear on more than (20) publicly posted signs.

C. Campaign posters must be posted in accordance with Student Activity Guidelines.

D. Door to door campaigning is allowed and encouraged.

E. Campus-wide e-mailing is prohibited.

F. Signs may be distributed and posted on doors of personal residences, at the discretion of the resident.

(Note: Doors going into residence halls and apartment buildings, and the hallways within are considered public spaces.)

G. All publicly posted posters must be removed by noon the day following elections.

H. Candidates are responsible for all posters in public places.

Declaration of Candidacy

Responsibility Acceptance Statement Saint Ben’s Senate

General Elections 2017-2018 I, ______

Hereby declare my candidacy for the position of

On the Saint Benedict’s Senate (SBS) of the College of St. Benedict.

In preparation for this election, I have:

1. Read the responsibilities required for my position. 2. Spoken to current senators, specifically the senator who currently holds the office of which I have declared candidacy, in areas that are unclear or uncertain to me.

Having completed this preparation, I will, if elected, fulfill the following responsibilities:

1. Attend all meetings of the SBS and the committees of which I am a member. 2. Fulfill the SBS duties delegated to the position for which I am running and remain a conscience representative of the CSB student body.

/s/ ______

Signature Date

Permission to Post Information on the Senate Website Saint Ben’s Senate

General Elections 2017-2018 I, , give my permission to the Senate of the College of St. Benedict to post my Platform summary, name, and email address on their website (https://sharepoint.csbsju.edu/csbsenate/Pages/defa ult.aspx) for Election purposes.

/s/ ______Signature Date

Sample Platform

Hi, my name is Sue Clark, a sophomore majoring in chemistry and I am running for the position of Club Auditor in the St. Ben’s Senate. When I heard the position was open, I knew immediately this was something I wanted to do. Having completed my first year here, I realize what a special place this is. Serving on the Senate as Club Auditor is a Saint Ben’s Senate

General Elections 2017-2018 terrific opportunity to learn more about St. Ben’s, to give something back to the school for all that it is giving me, and to make a real contribution to the activities that comprise such a large part of our experience here. I understand that being a member of the Senate takes time and hard work. The club auditor position requires a responsible person who is organized and self disciplined. In business, many times the auditor is thought of someone from the outside who is there only to verify results and report discrepancies. I don’t look at it that way. To me, the club auditor is a resource for the clubs, the senate, and the students. It’s a resource that works with the clubs to ensure funds are properly managed for the benefit of all members. Specific duties include monthly audits of appointed clubs, the filing of reports, and ability to establish relationships and work with other board members and students. In addition, the Club Auditor has input and a vote in the distribution of funds. My past experiences make me an excellent candidate. This past fall I served as an Orientation Leader. It was rewarding to share some of what I learned last year with first- year students to help them feel comfortable on campus. During my first year, through VISTO, I tutored junior high students in St. Cloud. Prior to St. Ben’s, I served as Secretary of the National Honor Society, was captain of our high school tennis team, and was team leader for our website development team that qualified for state competition. Past jobs have provided extensive experience in sales, invoicing, and inventory control. I believe I’m hard-working, focused, and dedicated to doing a good job. However, I believe that’s true of everyone who takes the time and effort to run for this position. In the end, what it comes down to are two values that I have lived by: always do my best and treat everyone fairly. It’s that simple.

There is one thing I know—any organization is only as good as the people in it. St. Ben’s is a great college. I would love to be a part of the wonderful group of women working to keep it that way.