The freshmen election process has started, and we have had a resounding amount of interest already. There are a number of student government positions available to the class of 2008, and I encourage the entire freshmen class to take a look at http://elections.union.rpi.edu and explore the opportunities available to you.

If you’re a sophomore, and are interested in becoming a member of the Senate mid-term, a seat has opened up and will be filled by the Class of 2007 class council in two weeks. Being on the Senate demands about six hours of your time a week, and any interested sophomore should contact me to discuss what we will be working on this year.

This will be an interesting year on the Student Senate, and even if you’re an upperclassmen, or you just can’t dedicate a large amount of time to being a senator, you can still be a part of the action. We are actively recruiting new members for our various committees. Each committee is a self-contained organization that has been given the authority for one aspect of life here at RPI. If there is something that affects your life here, we have a committee that responds to your concerns. This is the perfect way to get involved in your school if you have a limited amount of time to commit to your effort.

Aside from the freshman election, the Senate is also in the midst of a campaign to register new voters. Voting is an important responsibility that you have as an American, and we want to make this process as uncomplicated as possible. We will be distributing voter registration forms at the activities fair, in the Administration Office of the Rensselaer Union, and at the voting tables during the freshmen elections. They will also be given to your RAs, and I will have them available in my office. Also, the Union will be providing stamps, envelopes, and any necessary photocopies to anyone who brings a completed registration form to either myself, or to the Union Administration Office.