Q. The deadline is Tuesday, September 22 @ NOON . I have class until 1:25 and won’t be able to turn it in prior to 6PM application deadline. What should I do?

A. Tuesday, September 22 @ NOON is the absolute latest you can turn in your application. It is best if you turn it as soon as you have it completed and prior to your classes for the day. Late applications will be rejected, and you will only be allowed to run as a write-in candidate after the deadline.

Q. I’m really interested in running, but I have class during the scheduled meetings. Can I still serve?

A. There are often many sections of the same class running each trimester. If you have conflicts, it is your obligation to change your schedule to fit the meeting schedule. Only in rare instances where there is only one section of a class running during a trimester will this be acceptable, and this only tends to happen with seniors. In such cases, other service will have to be performed during the trimester. Otherwise, chronic absenteeism or tardiness will result in disciplinary action by the Judicial Court.

Q. What is expected of me as an SGA official?

A.  All SGA officials are expected to act in a professional manner that doesn’t discredit the image of SGA or the university.  You are also expected to be involved in the respective body that you are elected or appointed to by participating in discussion and also getting involved in the Johnson & Wales community.

Q. What is this “35% rule” that I keep hearing about?

A.  As a candidate, it is your obligation to actively campaign for your office.  In an effort to eliminate candidates who don’t actively campaign for their offices, the 35% rule will probably prevent you from taking office.

Assume that 1,000 students vote in the upcoming election.  In order to be elected, each candidate for the University Senate and University House of Representatives must secure 350 votes (35% of the 1,000 students voting) in order to serve.  Of course only the top 7 candidates for the University Senate, or 5 for the House of Representatives meeting this threshold will be allowed to serve.

So while it is possible that only 7 people run for the Senate, or only 5 people run for the House, it doesn’t guarantee you a seat in that respective body.  Candidates are encouraged to run with other candidates seeking office in order to maximize your name exposure to the student body.  While every student is entitled to 7 votes for the Senate, or 5 for the House, few rarely case every vote.