Student Association executive elections have been pushed back three weeks after senators and SA President Rob McCormack said the earlier date was premature.

McCormack said having elections on March 6 and 7, the original date, would make the SA senate lose focus and not allow enough time for campaigning. The elections will now be held on March 26 and 27.

“There are still a lot of things on my agenda that still have to get done,” McCormack said.

The senate approved the new date Monday after Sen. Eric Lynch started a debate by saying the election dates fell during midterm exams.

“They (senators) felt that was bad because turnout would be low,” Senate Speaker Preston Came said of the midterm issue. “(But) some people felt the turnout would be higher because people would be going to classes.”

However, McCormack said exams were not as much a problem as missing the March 9-17 spring break for campaign preparations.

“Any candidate, if they’re really going to run a good campaign, needs that week of spring break to really kind of organize themselves,” he said.

SA Vice President Tanya Smith, who set the original election date, left Sunday’s senate meeting before the election date was changed.

Smith said she was unaware of the change when The Northern Star called her Wednesday, but she approved of the new election date.

McCormack said he was concerned about the lack of communication between Smith and the SA.

“Like the senate said, none of them were really aware (of the election) until they saw that article in the paper,” McCormack said.

“I wish I were involved or (had been) asked my opinion because then I would have expressed that concern the senate expressed on Sunday,” he said.

Treasurer Mike Holy, who is on the SA executive board along with Smith and McCormack, said he was unaware of the original election date set by Smith.

“In an office, board member communication is the key,” Holy said. He would not comment further on the apparent lack of contact with Smith.

Smith said a memo about the election was sent to McCormack, and a calendar with the March 6 and 7 election date was available last week.

“I don’t think that I did anything inappropriate,” Smith said.