Elections for Southeast Missouri State University's Student Government Association representatives will take place this week on OrgSync. On April 5 and 6, students can log into OrgSync to place their vote for the students who will represent their college in SGA.

SGA is made up of 31 elected senators representing the seven colleges and schools at Southeast, five specially elected first-year senators, six appointed executive members, a treasurer, vice president and president. Residence Hall Association, Student Activities Council and the International Student Association also are represented.

Typically, students can vote for the senators in their respective colleges and executive positions, but this year, the executive positions are uncontested. Current SGA president and vice presidents Peyton Mogley and Dylan Kennedy will be returning for a second term with their new treasurer Andre Parker.

SGA allows for each college to have five senators and each school to have three senators. Five first-year students also are appointed in the fall of their first semester after completing an application process.

Students at Southeast were asked to apply for positions on SGA and assigned to their appropriate college or school. Colleges with more than five applicants and schools with more than three applicants must host elections.

This year, the colleges of liberal arts, business, and science, technology and agriculture and the School of Visual and Performing Arts will hold elections while the colleges of health and human services and education and the School of University Studies will not. The College of Health and Human Services had five applicants to fill the available positions. Special elections will be held in the fall to fill any remaining positions, including one open position in the College of Education and all three positions in the School of University Studies.

Michelle Irby, director of Campus Life and Event Services, has served as the faculty adviser for SGA for 11 years and said students should be interested in student government in order to have their voices heard.

"It's important students realize that they're electing representatives to represent themselves," Irby said. "They should look for those students within their college or major who can speak on their behalf and make sure issues important to them are addressed."

Irby encouraged students with concerns about different issues on campus to reach out to their SGA representatives and attend senate sessions at 8 p.m. on Mondays.

To vote, students can visit OrgSync, which is located on the home page of the Student Portal, on April 5 and 6. From there, students must select "Featured Portal-Voting Portal" and then select either their college or "Fill Out Form." Students can place their vote and then must click "finish" for their vote to be submitted.

The results of the elections will be announced on April 7. Any positions open in fall will be filled by a special elections committee.