The Associated Students
of Madison announced open seats and the dates for its spring 2008 student
leader elections this week.

Positions will be available
on the Student Services Finance Committee, as well as 29 open spots on the
Student Council. The senior class will also be able to vote for class president,
vice-president, treasurer and secretary, according to a press release.

ASM Chair Gestina Sewell
said the elections will take place April 1-3, and students will be able to vote
electronically. Sewell said she believes that the elections are important for
students and encouraged everyone to participate.

?You want people who are
going to work hard for you and stand up for you,? she said. ?You want people
who will be proactive.?

SSFC allocates funds for
student and nonstudent run organizations throughout the year, including SAFEride,
the MultiCultural Student Coalition, Sex Out Loud and the Campus Women?s
Center. SSFC also has the authority to raise, freeze and lower the funding of
existing General Student Services Fund organizations and to accept or reject
new funding requests. Over $19 million in segregated fees is appropriated by
ASM based on SSFC?s recommendations.

ASM Student Council is
the legislative body for UW students and is comprised of 33 elected officials
from every school. Some of ASM?s prior accomplishments include providing free
Madison Metro bus passes for students, the creation of a 24-hour library
(College Library) and securing a study day every semester before exams.

Sewell said she thinks it?s
a shame many students take for granted the work that many student government
members do on their behalf, and more UW students should become involved in the
process.

?Millions of dollars are
being allocated, and it?s important that students be involved in that process
and know what?s going on,? Sewell said. ?If you don?t want to go out there and
argue on your own behalf, you should be voting to make sure that people are
going to be doing that for you.?