For the next four days, Grand Valley State University students will have the opportunity to exercise their suffrage on a local level and elect 44 of their peers to the 2010-11 Student Senate.

The election, which began this past Monday, will conclude on Easter Monday when the results will be released following a grade check on all prospective senators.

“Every student at GVSU should be concerned with the outcomes of the Student Senate elections,” said James Reeve, Student Senate vice president of political affairs. “Grand Valley student senators need to be held accountable just like any other elected official — if we don’t get enough response and participation from students, we don’t know if we are properly prioritizing their concerns. And accurate response to student needs is our No. 1 priority.”

The ballot, which can be accessed online through the “Elections” link on the Student Senate Web site at http://www.Grand Valley State University.edu/studentsenate, lists the names of 45 student candidates representing a variety of class years and fields of study.

An additional 10 blanks are provided for write-ins.

Voters may select up to 10 candidates or write-ins; however, write-in candidates must complete a Student Senate application and have their current enrollment and minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 verified before they may be considered for a seat in the General Assembly where they are expected to represent the needs of the student body.

“It is important for students to vote in elections because these students will be working with administration to accomplish the needs of the student body,” said Joseph Duso, Student Senate executive vice president. “They represent every student on campus. Furthermore, Student Senate oversees the allocation of funding to student organizations, which put on programs that benefit the student body.”

As the federal government recognizes members of Congress as representatives of their respective constituencies do university administrators and trustees regard student senators as representatives of the greater student body.

“Many students don’t realize that the GVSU Student Senate actually passes legislation on a regular basis,” Reeve said. “As elected representatives of the student body, our resolutions act as the official voice of the student body to the Board of Trustees and the President’s Office.”

Forty-four students will be elected to the body come Monday, while six seats will be left open for freshmen and transfer students.

The Student Senate-elect will take their seats on the body for the first time on April 8.

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