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Syracuse University’s Student Association is preparing for its upcoming elections by creating new social media and tabling initiatives aiming to increase student voter turnout.

During the spring 2024 SA election, 0nly 743 students — or 4.7% of the undergraduate population — turned out to vote, well below the 10% of the benchmark needed to pass a proposed constitutional referendum that would add positions to the assembly and rebrand the assembly as the “Student Government Association.” Throughout fall 2024, SA continued its efforts to involve more of the student body by filling open assembly and cabinet seats. Still, voter turnout remained below 10%.

SA is eager to reach the threshold because of the changes the assembly hopes to make to its constitution, former SA President William Treloar said last year as the assembly worked to pass the resolution. Current SA President German Nolivos said reaching this percentage remains his goal.

“We are doing our best to make sure that students understand the impact the Student Association has and how much it’s important to care about the work and the people who are representing each of the schools,” Nolivos said.

Students interested in running have until Feb. 28 to file petitions signed by fellow students, said Valeria Serrano, SA’s director of engagement and outreach, in a statement sent to The Daily Orange. Presidential and vice presidential candidates will need 500 signatures and comptrollers will need 300, while assembly members are required to provide 25 from their school or college.

Voting will run from March 30 until April 4.

Once candidates are finalized, a town hall and executive debate will occur in March prior to election week. Serrano echoed the assembly’s goal to drive participation up this year.

To reach its goal, SA plans to host activities to increase student participation, including potential town hall discussions for students to become more familiar with candidates, Nolivos said. SA also hopes to increase social media content as a way to engage with a broader community of students.

“We want to make sure that people understand that there are many different areas of Student Association,” Nolivos said. “But the major goal is just engaging with campus as much as we can.”

SA is also beginning work with other student organizations, SA Vice President Reed Granger said. They said the association is looking to partner with multicultural organizations and groups, as well as fraternity and sorority organizations.

Granger said she hopes all organizations participate in efforts getting students to vote and become more involved in student government.

“These initiatives will garner campus support, larger social media attention and face-to-face conversation,” Granger wrote in a statement to The D.O. “All of these aspects are how to build community — a key to civic engagement amongst a group, especially in our generation.”

Nolivos said a recurring problem throughout SA elections is students largely voting on only the first and last days of elections. To combat this issue, SA plans to host its largest events in the middle of election week to remind students to vote.

Granger and Nolivos both emphasized the widespread impact the association has, not only for assembly members, but student life overall.

“I believe that 10% of the undergraduate student body voting is entirely realistic this year,” Granger said. “In a time where civic engagement has become increasingly relevant in our lives, in addition to the Student Association tailoring our outreach tactics, we will see this goal be met.”

Published on February 16, 2025 at 11:55 pm

Contact Sydney: sadepiet@syr.edu