Fear the Unknown: Will Montclair State Students Vote in the SGA Elections if They Don't Know What They Are?

Few students sitting outside the SGA office. Photo by Amina Abdelrahman

Next week, Montclair State students will have the opportunity to vote for who will hold positions in the student government office for the 2017-2018 school year.

The Student Government Association (SGA) is a council that oversees many campus organizations. They aim to enrich students’ experiences on campus by giving them opportunities to get involved and connect with others.

Although an election like this determines important things, like where money is spent, many students are unaware about the process and candidates.

Danielle Dibenedetto, a senior biology major, said she doesn’t know anything about the election and probably won’t vote. “I’m not involved. I come to class and go home,” she said.

Posters for candidates campaigning for the SGA. Photo by Amina Abdelrahman

Dibenedetto did notice the people who made an effort to put their names out, like those that write their names in chalk on the steps from CarParc and hang up posters. 

Sara Stambolian, a freshman psychology major, also notices the people who campaign. She is still deciding if she will vote next week, but she is going to look into the candidates and what they stand for before making her choices. 

“I would want them to help with things on campus,” Stambolian said. She isn’t involved in any organizations with the SGA, but is open to the idea in the future. 

​SGA polls open on Monday, April 3 at 12 a.m. and close on Wednesday, April 5 at noon. Students can vote on HawkSync between those hours.