Student Senate is looking to pick up its numbers for the coming year.

Therefore, Senate officers are pushing recruitment when they can and hope for a true election.

“We’ve hammered them [students],” said Eric Norris, Senate president.

Norris has worked with his fellow officers to place election petitions in the hands of any student they can.

“There are a lot of people who don’t know what Senate is,” he said.

Senate treasurer Garrison Earnest also worked the Senate booth at the Lion’s ROAR.

He agrees with Norris in that participation in Senate must come up.

“We need to make Senate a big deal again,” he said. “You can vote your own opinion.”

Norris said students are able to work with many organizations on campus as well as work with faculty to get their voices heard.

“Basically, it’s one of the easiest ways to get involved on campus,” he said.

Adam Griffin, Senate advisor, said he would like to see students get involved with Senate because they want to be involved with Senate. He also wants some competition for the seats.

“We want an election,” he said.

Griffin said students can look for a change in the Senate procedures to make them more expedient and clear to the organizations making allocation requests.

Doug Carnahan, Senate advisor and dean of students, also would like to see Senate become more involved with projects on campus.

Both Griffin and Carnahan said Senate vice-president Greg Salzer will be working hard to keep senators in line.

“He’s going to put things in place,” Griffin said.

Griffin said students should feel privileged to be on Senate.

“They can speak their mind,” he said. “Come out and vote.”

Senate secretary Kristen Duwe said she hopes senators will take things seriously this year as well.

“It’s a great way for students to get involved,” she said.

Several students had mixed feelings about Senate.

“I’m running because it’s necessary for us to be able to voice ourselves,” said Christofer Moore, freshman CIS major.

He said he would like to see more activities started on campus, and he thinks Senate is a vital part of the college life.

“If we don’t have any representation, they just say what they [senators] want,” Moore said.

Other students agree Senate should be something to get involved with.

“People need to be active,” said Jennifer Story, junior criminal justice major. “It helps you get into the school spirit.”

Story said involvement will improve retention rates as those who are involved on campus tend to stay longer.

Others want to learn more about Senate.

“I’ve heard a little bit about it,” said Derek Mitchell, freshman CIS major.

He said though Senate is there, he would also like to be involved in other activities on campus.

“Personally, it’s a way to relieve the stress,” Mitchell said.

Norris encourages all students to cast their votes in the election 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Billingsly Student Center Room 222.

“Have a voice,” Norris said. “It’s a chance to get things done.”