The Blog is back!
I’m Corey Cooling, and I am pleased to announce that I will be covering this year’s Northern Iowa Student Government elections on the Northern Iowan’s blog, NISGElections.com. I’m in my fifth-year “victory lap” here at UNI and I’ve worn quite a few different hats. I’ve been a Senator and Election Commissioner for NISG, been an opinion writer for the NI for two years, and last year I ran a campaign to be your student body president. This year, I have the distinct pleasure of hosting your “one-stop-shop” for everything related to this year’s elections. Whether you’re putting together a campaign yourself or are looking for the latest in what the candidates are up to, I hope you will join me at NISGElections.com
The blog began in 2011 after a series of controversial elections and derisive infighting in the Senate. That year, two NISG veterans decided to expand the coverage of NISG for the student body to get a better idea what their representatives were up to. Four years later, the Senate has been totally reformed and many of their policies have been updated. We’ve had several really tight Presidential elections with razor thin margins.
With President Ruud in his second year and the new Regents funding model being debated, UNI students, now more than ever, need good representation to the administration and the legislature.
I’ll repeat a promise made when the blog was founded. Through the blog, I will do everything I can to give you news you can’t get anywhere else. I’ll show you what the candidates are paying attention to so you can pay attention too. I’ll look closely at the candidates and their platforms and call them out if they’re unrealistic. I’ll see how proposed policies would really affect students and student groups, and I’ll be frank and honest with what I find out.
As a former candidate for president, I will be able to give you analysis and context to describe what the candidates are thinking about, because I’ve been there. From building up Facebook friends to designing logos and websites, I’ll be here to cover what’s going on behind the scenes. I’ll also give you my honest opinion about the candidates and give them hard questions in interviews. It’s my goal to give student voters a wealth of information to make their choice of candidates for both Senate and President/Vice President.
I’ll end with some dates to keep in mind as election season looms in the coming weeks. This year’s Election Commissioner is Nathan Davis and his job is to help candidates campaign within the rules and get on the ballot. In order to get on the ballot for any position, you must fill out a form that can be picked up at the NISG Office (top floor of the Union) beginning Friday, Feb. 6. That’s a week from Friday! For other information from Nathan, check out the election info site at hhtp://www.uni.edu/studentorgs/nisg/elections or email Nathan at [email protected]. Formal campaign season begins Monday Feb. 9, at 8 a.m.
I’m hoping this year’s election will be exciting and informative and I hope you stay tuned.
