By Andrew Benoit
It’s almost time for the annual elections for positions within the Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound (ASUPS), including president and vice president as well as several senate positions. Voting for ASUPS positions is open to all Puget Sound students, who will receive an email with a voting link during the week of Feb. 21. ASUPS is responsible for allocating funds to clubs and managing a wide array of student affairs in concert with the administration and Board of Trustees, making these elections particularly important for students. “ASUPS elections matter because they give students a real opportunity to use their voice, whether that be by running for office themselves or supporting a candidate who represents their vision for change. Our student government holds a unique amount of power to make tangible improvements on campus, and this is the time to take full advantage of that,” said Sofia Calcagno (‘26), the current vice president.
ASUPS has struggled to field a wide array of candidates in recent elections, relying on write-in and unopposed candidates to fill positions. That doesn’t appear to be the case this year; several candidacy announcements for the executive positions have been made. However, interest in senate positions – which are vital for ASUPS to function smoothly – continues to lag behind. Calcagno encourages people with interests to apply and mentioned how impactful the experience has been for her. “It has opened my eyes to all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything running and the progress that still needs to be made. One thing I never expected was the incredible connections I’ve built with faculty, staff, and peers,” she said. “To anyone considering running, do it! You won’t regret it.”