ASCWU Elections are quickly approaching, with online voting for the General Elections opening Monday, May 13 at 8 a.m. and closing Friday, May 17 at 5 p.m. There are eight students running for executive board positions, and five students running for senator positions. “Six elected student officers work to represent all students equally and fairly and to ensure that their voices are heard,” according to the ASCWU website. “From facilities to academics, the ASCWU Student Government helps advocate for student concerns and creates programs to make the Central college experience more memorable.” 

There are three candidates for ASCWU president running for the 2024-2025 academic year, the first of which is the presidential incumbent, Malik Cantu. “While in office, I have practiced collaborative and empowering leadership that included and amplified as many voices as possible in conversations happening on campus,” Cantu said. “My incredible team of directors and I have provided leadership opportunities for students, advocated for resources on campus, and created stronger bonds with the student body.” They also said that in their time as ASCWU president, they have made an effort to use their experience in every branch of student government to better serve the student population. “If re-elected, I will focus on navigating continued conversations of the new Multicultural center, build relationships across campus and in the Ellensburg community, and help develop emerging leaders that will uplift our wildcat community.”

The next presidential candidate in the running is Charles Johnson. Johnson has previously served in ASCWU as Senate Speaker and the senator for the College of Business. “I believe that students deserve absolute transparency about the decisions being made for them by administration and deserve to have a voice in those decisions. In my time with ASCWU I have prioritized advocating for the needs, wants and hopes of CWU students,” Johnson said. Johnson wants students to know that his top priority as president would be to make sure that the voices of all students can be heard.

The final presidential candidate is Eliasib Alvarado. Alvarado is running on the mission to empower every type of student at CWU. “I am committed to ensuring that students have access to essential resources, including long-needed workers’ rights, cultural centers, and long-lasting programs that will advocate and assist with the diverse needs of first-generation, POC, queer, low-income, students with disabilities, international students, transfer students, and those experiencing housing insecurity,” Alvarado said.

For Vice President, Nick Villa is returning to run for this role. “My journey in this role has been fueled by a passion for representing our student body and working towards creating a more inclusive, supportive, and student-centric university,” Villa said. “Key goals that I would pursue in this position include amplifying resources awareness that CWU provides to students and ensuring that student receive the help they need.” 

Running for Director of Student Life and Facilities is Gerardo Castillo. “The reason I would like to continue serving as an elected official is because of the following; what I have learned this year will allow me to implement replicable strategies that can be used for years to come,” Castillo said.

Michelle Carrillo is re-running for Director for Governmental Affairs. “My goals for this position as director of governmental affairs is to continue to inform students about local, state, and national higher education policies,” Carillo said. “I will continue to promote the importance of being civically engaged through voter registration, voting, and lobbying at the state capitol in Olympia. It is important to let students know how important and effective student lobbying is, as we passed bills like the Washington College Grant term eligibility to match the Pell Grant, and our basic needs provisor to ensure that each university has a full-time navigator. I will use my knowledge that I gained from being the director this year as well as the legislative liaison for central and use it to my advantage on how I will reach out to students.”

Two students are running for the position of Senate Speaker, Alec “Hondo” Acosta-Vega and Meric Jackson. Acosta-Vega has been a part of ASCWU in one way or another since his first year, including being a senator. “As Senate Speaker, I want to lead the senate to success and let the student body know that the senate and I are here for them and will advocate for them and get results,” Acosta-Vega said.

Jackson is running for speaker to be a voice for change. “I have grown to love and enjoy this school and I want to do whatever I can to help change Central for the better,” Jackson said. “I would love to be the Senate Speaker and help create legislation that builds this school up to be the best it can be.”

The Observer will be continuing their coverage of the ASCWU presidential candidates in the weeks leading up to the election. Final results for the ASCWU General Election will be announced on May 23.