ELECTIONS | Ballot measures relatively close before network reset, according to preliminary returns

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Cooper said she wrote all three ballot measures up for vote this election. Various committees met and discussed various fees and whether they needed to be altered. The ballots propose three fees to be changed. First, the health fee would be raised from $37 to $39 to help cover the cost of the contract between Truman and Complete Family Medicine. The goal of this measure is to reduce the costs of healthcare on campus. The increase in the fee will cover more of the cost of the contract between CFM and Truman.

The second ballot measure is a reallocation of funds related to the environmental sustainability office. This ballot measure would grant the office $1,000 to help cover the basic operations of the office, as right now the office must apply for money from the University to cover any of their operations. The measure would allow the student environmental fee to stay at its present rate of $5.

The third ballot measure is the activity fee, which would be raised from $45 to $50. Student Government will be granted an extra $1, Funds Allotment Council an extra $1.50, and Student Activities Board an extra $2.50. Cooper said the main reason for this increase is because these organizations are seeing their budgets decrease by half as enrollment has declined. As a result, these groups may not be able to provide the same quality of events as they have in the past.

Alicia Stout is the elections administrator for spring 2023. Stout is in charge of all administrative aspects of the election, completing everything from writing the elections handbook to ensuring all candidates are able to run. Stout said the campaign season was competitive, meaning not everyone running for Student Government was guaranteed a spot. Additionally, before the network reset, all three ballot measures were relatively close, according to preliminary returns that Stout had access to.

Stout said the election was more competitive than last fall’s election. Relative to last spring, there were less people running for senator positions, but the ballot measures were very controversial. Stout said this election additionally included many incumbents running for reelection. There are 20 people running for senator, with 18 seats available. No candidates ran for FAC chair or treasurer, meaning those elections will happen internally among Student Government.

Stout said redoing the election required Student Government to make changes to their governing documents, as there was no established procedure for redoing or calling a special election if needed. There are no major changes to the ballot.

O’Reilly said Student Government is always glad to see people using their vote, and by engaging with Student Government they are able to better understand the needs of the student body.

1. Health fee increase from $37 to $39

2. Reallocation of funds related to the Environmental Sustainability Office

3. Activity fee increase from $45 to $50