DeKALB | “Pressing the flesh” may be a thing of the past for future political candidates. Campaign staples like soap-box speeches and baby-kissing are making way for e-mail and Facebook groups.

The “Huskie 8” is one of the parties running for election in this fall’s student association senate election. They formed from a group of Phi Sigma Zeta members and former floor mates. They are using Facebook to get their messages out.

“Look at the number of people that are on Facebook,” said senate candidate Lee “The Gorilla” Blank, part of the Huskie 8. “It’s hard and costs a lot of money to have signs made and print out handbills.”

He said he will continue to campaign in person despite the availability of the new online alternatives. In past years, he passed out handbills and even dressed up as a gorilla.

“We’re looking to represent students and are trying to get people interested,” said Chris Crane, senate candidate and co-founder of the party Students for Change. “We see the two, three percent that show up to vote. We want to get students out to vote and cure apathy,” Crane said.

The three polling places are located in DuSable Hall, Founders Memorial Library and the Holmes Student Center. Blank said the lack of polling places near Barsema Hall and the engineering building is a disservice to a lot of people.

Erick Brenes, the election commissioner, agreed a fourth polling place would be a good change. He said he would talk to whoever it took to try and push for a change in the constitution to allow another polling place.

Crane would like to have started campaigning earlier, but said he has already spoken to three organizations and plans on talking to more.

“Having a big group is good, but it’s pointless if you can’t get the people in your group to vote,” he said.

Last year, candidates could hand out candy; this year they can’t, so Facebook is a good alternative, said Nichole Brown, the other half of Students for Change.

Part of the Huskie 8 agenda is to more accurately represent the student body.

“There was some student outcry with the way the 50-cent draft [legislation] was handled,” Blank said.

He also said there is a lot of oversight in senate funding and absences were poorly counted.

There are other parts of the election process Blank said could be better. Due to scheduling issues, he has had trouble getting some of his campaigning material approved. He is also unhappy with the official candidate list. He is both “The Gorilla” and a part of the Huskie 8, but was restricted to one nickname on the ballot, which could lead to some confusion.

Christopher Norman is the Student Association beat reporter for the Northern Star.