West Virginia Universitys new student leaders are just a mouse-click away as the schools first on-line Student Government Association (SGA) election campaign gets under way tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 15).


Candidates will be vying for the SGA presidency and vice-presidency, along with 15 Board of Governors positions and two Athletic Council seats, according to Student Elections Chairperson Michael Gustman.


Each candidates eligibility was determined after a review of all the candidate packets, which included biographical information, grade-point averages and brief platform statements, he noted. Information on each of the candidates will be available on the student MIX (Mountaineer Information Express) web site beginning Saturday.


Candidates meeting the criteria will be available to meet with students at booths set up in the Mountainlair Commons Area Monday through Friday, Feb. 17-21.


On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the candidates will hold a 9 p.m. debate in the Evansdale (Towers) Residential Complex Gold Ballroom. A second debate will be held from 9-10:30 p.m. during WVUp All Night activities in the Mountainlair Thursday, Feb. 20.


Outdoor space will also be reserved in the brick area in front of the Mountainlair Feb. 25-27 for candidates to meet students and discuss their platforms, Gustman said.


The new online voting procedures, announced during a recent SGA Board of Governors meeting, are expected to increase student participation dramatically, he added.


“We are really excited about this change,”he said.”I think it will really help the election process because it will be easier and more convenient for students to learn about the candidates as well as to participate in voting.”


During this years election, students can vote by logging on to their MIX accounts beginning 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 and ending at 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, where a link will lead them to the voting page, complete with ballots and profiles of the candidates.


The site,http://www.votenet.com, will host the election.


Election results will be announced at approximately 10:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, during Up All Night activities in the Mountainlair, he added.


An SGA inaugural banquet will be held later in March at the EricksonAlumniCenter.