With the return of fall semester, student politics have again come alive.

NIU’s Student Association Senate elections are around the corner and many former senators are choosing not to run again.

Some are barred due to other commitments, but some express other reasons for their disinterest.

“I would like to run again, but I now work full time,” said former Senator Olivia Nesterowicz.

Nesterowicz served in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 senate sessions as representative from district five, which is mainly composed of commuter students.

Pundit and second-time SA executive candidate Aaron Funfsinn expressed some interest in the fall race as well.

“I might run. It depends on the next few weeks. I could probably spare a few hours each week.” Funfsinn said.

Advancement

Some of last year’s senate has moved on to higher positions within the SA. Senators Erick Brenes, Brittney Motley and Alex Thervil moved on to positions within the SA executive cabinet.

Brenes is the SA’s information technology manager, Mottley is the SA’s director of public affairs and Thervil is the director of organizational development.

SA Vice President Jason Andree and Treasurer Ricky Garcia also came directly from the senate, serving in the 2006-2007 session and elected in the spring executive election.

Negative Response

However, some students formed a negative opinion of the SA after their service. Brett Kryska was one such senator.

“Last year, I felt that I had a voice but it wasn’t being heard,” Kryska said. “It’s a numbers game in the senate, whoever’s got the campaign down has the biggest word.”

Kryska said his group of senators, the “Huskie 8 Party” represented ordinary students, not an isolated sect of student thought. He places the blame for his disenchantment on other senators, who chose to reject accountability-reform legislation he co-sponsored.

“I always felt that when I was sitting in session anything they said had to go,” he said. “I decided I don’t want to be a part of that anymore.”

Kryska had an overall critique of the SA.

“They don’t show financial records to the students, they refuse to make records of voting available to the public. The U.S. Congress publishes records for the public; who is this organization to set itself above them?”

Speaker’s response

Speaker of the Senate Robert Batey, a senator in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 held a positive view of the upcoming election. Although not choosing to run for a senate seat, Batey will continue to retain his position as Speaker of the Senate.

In fall of 2006, Batey informally asked the senate if he should retain his position as speaker despite losing a senate seat in that session’s election – the 38th senate told him to stay.

“I believe that this senate session is going to continue with a long senate tradition of student government where students take part in leadership on campus and bring change to the university,” said Batey. “This is going to be a great year. I truly believe the new senate working with this executive can accomplish great things”

Batey said the SA “Go Student Leaders” meeting Sept. 4 had approximately 80 to 90 students in attendance, with about half expressing interest in senate positions.