Campaigning Abroad

Last spring, I had the privilege of studying abroad in Oviedo, Spain. Living in another country proved to be an invaluable experience that I think more students should take advantage of. While I was there, I had several discussions with friends who had been involved in the Northern Iowa Student Government in the past and thought I should consider being a senator. I eventually agreed to run, and an NISG-experienced friend agreed to handle my campaign in Cedar Falls since I obviously couldn't physically be there.

Had I known how tedious and stressful just getting my name on the ballot would be, I may have reconsidered.

The first issue was getting the required number of student signatures from abroad. Luckily, I had a friend who knew what he was doing and took care of that requirement for me. Without him, this first step wouldn't have been possible.

The second obstacle I encountered was figuring out how I could sign the form that was required of me to run. It seemed ridiculous to have to complete such a task considering that I was thousands of miles away, but the election commission held that I needed to find a way. I was fortunate enough to eventually find a scanner, but it's possible that not all students abroad will have easy access to one.

The final and most troubling hurdle to getting my name on the ballot was the fact that certain members of the election commission didn't think I should be able to run since I was abroad. Dealing with these types of conflicts is difficult enough when one is here and can sort things out face-to-face, but it was particularly stressful to try and figure out what I could do when my only modes of communication were online.

Again, I was lucky in that my friend knew just who to talk to so that he could get the election commission to reconsider; most students abroad don't have that privilege. While they did eventually decide I could run, I question why it was an issue in the first place. Isn't Study Abroad something that UNI advocates? Why should students be punished for taking advantage of this experience?

Luckily, the current election commission has expressed to me their commitment to making sure my difficulties running while abroad are something of the past. They will try to work with whomever is considering a senate campaign and figure out how best to fulfill all the requirements in a reasonable manner.

If you are abroad and are considering running, here's what you can do: First, go to the NISG website read the information provided about the upcoming elections. Second, find the contact information for the election commission and let them know you wish to run from abroad. They will point you in the right direction from there. Finally, as my experience has shown, make sure you have at least one friend who can help you manage your campaign here at UNI. This needs to be someone you can trust to turn in necessary forms, and also help distribute any campaigning materials you may choose to use. It may take more work than running from Cedar Falls, but don't be discouraged from taking part in NISG just because you aren't physically here. Senate needs students with diverse views and experiences, and your time abroad helps make you a more qualified candidate.