Assembling the vote

Michigan Student Assembly Elections '97

By Katie Plona
Daily Staff Reporter

The platforms of seven tickets running for the Michigan Student Assembly's top executive offices attempt to attract the attention of University students with ideas ranging from the revision of marijuana fines to lowering tuition costs.

Six parties' candidates and an independent team are running for the positions of the assembly president and vice president in next week's election on Wednesday and Thursday.

Students may vote not only at the traditional paper ballot sites but at campus computer sites through a new electronic voting system this year.

Many candidates said they hope the new electronic voting option will increase voter turnout, which was less than 15 percent in last year's presidential elections.

"We tried to eliminate all of the polling sites that we didn't get a good turnout at," said MSA Election Director Angie Blake, an LSA sophomore.

To advertise their platforms, candidates have been visiting student groups and Greek houses. Banners and flyers also showcase the candidates' ideas throughout campus buildings.

WCBN, along with WOLV, is sponsoring an MSA presidential debate for anyone who wants to hear the views of the candidates. Presidential candidates will be fielding questions from panelists representing the campus community today from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Michigan Union's Anderson Room.

WCBN will air the program from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and WOLV will broadcast the program all weekend on channel 70 in the residence halls.