It’s that time of year again: election season for the West Virginia University Student Government Association.

This year, two parties with tickets that are each composed of 19 students, plus one independent student, will be running for the following positions: President, Vice President, Governor and Athletic Council. The parties have classified themselves as the Fusion Party and the Pirate Party.

The final debate for the candidates is tonight (April 4) in the Mountainlair area at 8 p.m. and is sponsored by The Daily Athenaeum. All students are encouraged to attend.

Voting begins on April 5 and runs until April 7. Students can log onto their MIX between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to vote for their chosen candidates.

The winners of the election will be announced in the Mountainlair at 8 p.m. on Thursday night. The winners’ term expires in spring 2012.

The students running for office are as follows:

The Fusion Party candidates:

President and Vice President

Jason Bailey is Fusion’s presidential candidate from Ripley. He is pursuing a dual degree in international studies and political science with a minor in economics. He is currently serving SGA as a governor.

Megan Callaghan is Fusion’s vice presidential candidate from Charleston. She is a junior majoring in psychology and also currently serves SGA as a governor.

Board of Governors

Rashad Bates is a junior sport management major from Vineland, NJ. He is a current governor running for re-election. His platform is improving and increasing attendance at WVUp All Night.

Matt Boczanowski is a second year MPA student from Mendon, MA. He is currently serving SGA as the outreach director. His platform is improving the student life of graduate students.

Bridgette Boyd is a sophomore double majoring in political science and international studies from Charleston. Her platform includes improvements in advising, and awareness in scholarships and financial aid.

Ryan Campione is a sophomore industrial engineering major from Morgantown. He is a current governor running for re-election. His platform is improving Evansdale dining options and the life of dorm residents and resident assistants.

Nicole Crane is a freshman majoring in chemistry and political science from Charleston. She has served SGA as an intern this past year. Her platform is improving student health.

Ellis Lambert is a sophomore business management major from Martinsburg. His platform is reform for the students in the school of Business and Economics.

Tiffany Pratt is a freshman majoring in political science and international studies from Huntington. Her platform is community service and improving the transitions of military students into student life.

Zach Redding is a sophomore double majoring in political science and Spanish from Wilkes-Barre, PA. His platform is improving sustainability and accessibility of Mountie Bountie.

Taj Rohr is a junior majoring in accounting from Parkersburg. He currently serves SGA as executive of financial transparency. His platform is improving faculty relations.

Allison Rollins is a junior double majoring in chemistry and television journalism from Point Pleasant. She is a current governor running for re-election. Her platform involves resources for club sports.

Benjamin Seebaugh is a sophomore majoring in political science and international studies from Parkersburg. He currently serves SGA as chairman of Student Advocates for Legislative Affairs. His platform is student advocacy.

Isabelle Shepherd is a freshman majoring in political science from Short Gap. She currently serves as an intern in SGA. Her platform is to bring the arts downtown from the Evansdale campus.

Caroline Sprenger is a junior majoring in multidisciplinary studies (sports and exercise psychology, communications, and sociology) from Clarksburg. Her platform is improving transportation and parking on campus.

George Weaver *is a sophomore pre-business major from Lancaster, PA. His platform is improving the promotion of intramural sports.

Ray Zane* is a freshman pre-business major from Mount Royal, NJ. His platform is to improve technology and accessibility gaps on campus.

Athletic Council

Zach Krebs is a junior majoring in political science from Forked River, NJ. His platform is to improve fan experience and create a new ticket-request system.

Steve Orlowski is a sophomore majoring in sport management from Leonia, NJ. His platform is to raise awareness for Olympic sports and create a group to encourage healthy fan behavior.

The Pirate Party candidates:

President and Vice President

Daniel Brummage is Pirate’s presidential candidate from Morgantown. He is a junior double majoring in business administration and chemistry. He currently serves SGA as the president’s chief-of-staff.

Joe Harmon is Pirate’s vice presidential candidate from Buffalo, NY. He is a junior majoring in political science. He currently serves as a governor in SGA.

Board of Governors:

Philip Berry is a junior communications major from St. Albans. His platform is to promote Olympic sports.

Courtney Bertol is a junior majoring in child development and family studies from Wheeling. Her platform is to promote involvement in student organizations and activities.

Bryanna DeFazio is a freshman majoring in pre-occupational therapy from Clarksburg. She currently serves as an intern in SGA. Her platform is to address issues with students from the College of Creative Arts.

Alexander N. Folio is a junior multidisciplinary studies major (religion, psychology, and public relations) from Clarksburg. His platform is to improve safety in student neighborhoods.

Lakyn Hose is a freshman double majoring in international studies and Chinese from Martinsburg. Her platform is to improve meal plan options.

Julie Lippman is a junior majoring in advertising from Linwood, NJ. Her platform is health and wellness.

Alyssa Mariano is a sophomore majoring in political science from Buffalo, NY. Her platform is to encourage sexual health on campus with WELLWVU.

Ryan Mulraney is a junior majoring in economics from Murrysville, PA. His platform is to improve off-campus housing for students.

Jessie Petitt is a junior majoring in political science from Beckley. Her platform is to improve transportation and parking issues in Morgantown.

Charles Reidpath is a sophomore majoring in exercise physiology from Morgantown. His platform is to maintain and spread awareness of WVU traditions.

Ariana Sattaripour is a junior majoring in industrial engineering from Morgantown. Her platform is to improve WVU’s environmental grade through sustainability.

Dave Small is a freshman majoring in international studies from Morgantown. He currently serves as an intern in SGA. His platform is on-and-off campus safety.

Amadou Toure is a junior majoring in business management from Paris. His platform is to student life for international students on campus.

Michael Trumble is a junior finance major from Martinsburg. His platform is to improve student retention.

Collins Youngblood is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering from Midlothian, VA. His platform is to improve conditions in the Sunnyside neighborhood.

Athletic Council:

Jarred Zuccari is a sophomore majoring in multidisciplinary studies from McClean, VA. He is a current athetic councilman running for re-election. His platform is to increase fan attendance by allowing alcohol to be served at athletic events.

Cody Campbell is a junior majoring in political science from New Martinsville. His platform is to improve student seating at basketball games.

Independent candidate:

Mohamed Ali is a sophomore human nutrition major from Manassas, Va. His platform is health and wellness.

To learn more about SGA, visit http://sga.wvu.edu. To learn more about each party, visit http://www.baileycallaghan.com and http://wvupirates.com.

-WVU-

mm/04/04/11

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