UW Oshkosh students who wish to run for student body president, vice president and senator for the Oshkosh Student Association have until Feb. 23 to fill out and return the Statement of Candidacy Paperwork to the OSA office. According to OSA Administrative Assistant Rae Ann Wetzel, the paperwork must be turned in by 3:00 p.m. to be eligible for the positions. In order to qualify for the president or vice president positions, an applicant must have at least 24 academic credits and maintain a 2.50 GPA. In addition, the vice president must attend UWO for two consecutive semesters, according to the OSA constitution. The elections themselves will be held March 8 and 9 on TitanLink from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. “We are a student government, so each of these positions at their core represents 14,000 students at the state and federal level,” OSA President Jordan Schettle said. Schettle said the University, including the Chancellor, administrative faculty and other leadership individuals look to OSA when they have questions for the student body, want their opinion or want them to keep their ears open on different issues. “We have the legal ability and state statute to give that opinion on behalf of students,” Schettle said. According to Schettle, some of their main responsibilities include appointing students to all university committees, attending conferences on behalf of UWO and putting forth resolutions for the central legislation for both the Senate and Assembly parties to vote on. “From there on out, it is just really whatever that individual wants to make of it,” Schettle said. OSA Vice President Graham Sparks said a benefit of being involved in OSA it’s getting people prepared for real life experiences. “One thing’s for sure, that we’ve seen with student government, is it gives the ability for students to get comfortable with the idea of and the experience of having established people in the room sitting around a table and having a discussion and being able to articulate your thoughts,” Sparks said. According to Schettle, an advantage of these positions is being able to take student ideas that weren’t originally a tangible product or idea and turn them into true services students can use. “The benefit is that it is not high school, and this is real world, this is something you can actually take and run with and you can truly open doors for students or opportunities for students to truly succeed as well,” Schettle said. “You can leave your impact on this community.” Sparks said representing the student body has been an honor and a blessing. “It’s really humbling and I am just honored to really serve because this is an opportunity that not everybody gets to have, so I try to make the most of it,” Sparks said. According to Schettle, the candidate should be an effective leader, but more importantly they should have the ability to actively respond and be engaged at all times. “It’s the ability to truly make sure each individual that has a concern, their voices are being heard, and that no one’s voice is diminished on campus,” Schettle said. Schettle said it is important for students to think about who they want to elect and go out and vote because whoever gets elected can affect what’s going on around campus. “Maybe it won’t affect people drastically, but the most important change that can happen is at local government and what can be more local then you own student government?” Schettle said. “This is where change can truly occur.” positions is being able to take student ideas that weren’t originally a tangible product or idea and turn them into true services students can use. “The benefit is that it is not high school, and this is real world, this is something you can actually take and run with and you can truly open doors for students or opportunities for students to truly succeed as well,” Schettle said. “You can leave your impact on this community.” Sparks said representing the student body has been an honor and a blessing. “It’s really humbling and I am just honored to really serve because this is an opportunity that not everybody gets to have, so I try to make the most of it,” Sparks said. According to Schettle, the candidate should be an effective leader, but more importantly they should have the ability to actively respond and be engaged at all times. “It’s the ability to truly make sure each individual that has a concern, their voices are being heard, and that no one’s voice is diminished on campus,” Schettle said. Schettle said it is important for students to think about who they want to elect and go out and vote because whoever gets elected can affect what’s going on around campus. “Maybe it won’t affect people drastically, but the most important change that can happen is at local government and what can be more local than your own student government?” Schettle said. “This is where change can truly occur.”