ASUAF elections will be held next week on May 3 and 4. The new ASUAF President will be decided, as will 10 Senate seats and at least one ballot initiative.

The ballot had not been finalized as of press time, but Elections Supervisor Jennifer Phillips said that it looks like the only ballot initiative will be the CLMP initiative, which asks students if they would pay a fee of up to $160 to expand the Wood Center. Other possible initiatives involve the State House and Senate Joint Resolutions that would deny benefits to dependant partners of UAF employees.

Phillips said that the ballot would also include some questions in order to gauge student opinion.

Phillips said it looks like there will be four presidential candidates: Sven Gilkey, Brandon Meston, Levi Rion Ben-Israel, and incumbent Joe Blanchard.

"Nothing is certain until Tuesday," Phillips said. "Someone could still jump out of left field and surprise me."

Sven Gilkey was born in Fairbanks and graduated from West Valley High School.

Growing up, his activities included church, high school rifle, and Boy Scouting, where Gilkey rose to be a national officer. At UAF he's in his fifth year finishing up a degree in political science. Gilkey will be here for another year or two, as he's added a second major in history.

While here, Gilkey has worked to re-charter Nu Omega Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. He's also served on the Residence Life Judicial Board, been an Orientation Leader and Co-Captain, a UAF Student Ambassador, and even had fun as the mascot at hockey games. Most recently, I have served as the Organizing Director for ASUAF working to put on programs such as the blood drives, and working with the Nanook Traditions committee on behalf of ASUAF.

This year, Gilkey said, the administration's failure was in communication.

"I found often that in an environment without respect for others, it is hard to get things done. One must find ways to work with people, and sometimes accept that you will be the weaker in the discussion," Gilkey said. "This can't be about our own pride."

Brandon Meston is a political science major, currently with sophomore status, but finishing his third year. Meston is from the North Pole, Eielson area.

"I am running for office because I feel that there is a strong lack of initiative from much of the current student government," Meston said. "Some people have ideas, but no motivation to act on them. The organization as a whole also lacks vision and does not plan for the future."

Meston has been involved in ASUAF in some capacity for his three years at UAF and says he's disappointed by its lack of activity.

"I think that the current administration relies too much on word of mouth, and lacks vision and communication skills," Meston said. "There has not been one cabinet meeting for the employees of ASUAF, which I know because I am one. The employees have mostly been on their own, unless seeking out the president."

Meston says he will be swift to appoint students to campus committees and ensure accountability.

"I do not feel the election has been handled fairly," Meston added. "I'm not sure about the effect on the election, but I think the turnout will depend on the one week the candidates have to take their own initiative and campaign like crazy."

Levi Rion Ben-Israel, a junior theatre major and his running mate, Anna Luisa Gagne-Hawes, also a junior in theatre and history, said they're running because they feel that the current student government does not sufficiently represent or embody the views and concerns of the average fee-paying student.

"We believe that in order for the students to be accurately represented the effort for students to be made fully aware of student governmental activity must be significantly increased," Ben-Israel said. "We need to enlarge the presently represented demographic by shifting the weight in the senate to a more balanced equilibrium of the current student at UAF."

Ben-Israel said the addition of a non-elect administration adviser into ASUAF for the purpose of regulating senate member functionality at no additional cost to the student would make for drastic improvement in government effectiveness.

"The avoidance of an ASUAF vacuum that would exclude or unintentionally incapacitate any student from having a full and understood voice at their university is something we will undoubtedly take into account," Ben-Israel said.

Incumbent president Joseph Blanchard is pursuing a double major in chemistry and political science. Blanchard is an 11-year Alaska resident with three-year's experience with ASUAF.

"I am running because my work with ASUAF is not finished, and I believe my best ability to affect change will be through the presidency for a second term," Blanchard said.

Blanchard hopes to develop a judicial branch for the student government, as well as raising student wages and developing plans for the Student Recreation Center.

"My experience and knowledge of the university will help us reach these goals and more," Blanchard said. "I don't personally trust the other candidates to take on this job."

Blanchard says he's kept his campaign promises from the last election, and that he provides the necessary leadership and knowledge to take on the task of running ASUAF. Blanchard listed the ASUAF website, the recycling program, blood drives, and his opposition to tuition increases as ways he's fought for students.

Blanchard hopes to improve campus childcare for students with children

"We [ASUAF] have been around for 83 years and through our development we have always been there to fight injustice and make those improvements and say the things that no one else does to make university life better.

Blanchard disagreed with claims that the current election has been poorly run.

"I think it has been handled perfectly by the current elections board. They are making sure things are done fairly and by the books. I think it will only enhance the turnout and provide adequate advertisement."