Candidates for the Creighton Students Union presidency began their campaigns this week, with this year’s four hopefuls announced on Monday. In the running are sophomore Emily Meister and juniors Tess Humphrey, Jireth Galeana and Sam Perkinson.

Humphrey, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she wants to be a president that represents what the students want.

“It’s not just me I’m running for; ultimately, I’m running for the entire Creighton community,” Humphrey said. “I do just want to hear everyone, and be like, ‘what do you want changed and what do you want fixed?’ …At the end of the day, we’re all here together. It’s not just one person.”

She said that if she is elected, she plans to increase student engagement through communication and improve attendance at games, events and clubs to get more people connected to the community.

College of Arts and Sciences student Galeana also said that she has big plans for increasing student connections with the counseling and career centers, and creating more green spaces on campus. Her campaign also focused on improving financial literacy for students.

“I would like it to be a campus wide thing where we’re allowed to ask questions and get support without feeling kind of shamed for not understanding financial literacy,” Galeana said.

By being involved in so many Creighton organizations, Galeana said she ultimately decided to campaign for Creighton Students Union president to make a larger impact on campus.

“I… wanted to go to the next level of making change here at Creighton,” she said.

Sam Perkinson, a student in the Heider College of Business, said he is enjoying the process of meeting new people and getting his name out there. He said that his campaign is focused on including the perspectives of students of all backgrounds.

Perkinson’s platform includes improving recreation facilities and implementing programs to reduce food waste and allow students to gain management experience by running Creighton’s dining program.

If elected, he plans to get change accomplished faster than in prior years.

“Wanting change to come in place and seeing change happen really excites me,” Perkinson said.

Meister, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the only candidate campaigning with a running mate. She has chosen College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Kate Ellis for the job.

“She is amazing, just such an amazing student leader… So I really can’t imagine doing it with anyone else and I don’t think Kate can either, so we make such a great team,” Meister said.

Meister said the duo’s plan includes increased green space, incorporating more options in McGloin Market and Jack and Ed’s for students with dietary restrictions, and partnering with cultural organizations to provide special meal options in Brandeis for students during cultural and religious holidays.

They also would like to establish a university-wide giving day to both unify students and sponsor organizations that students care about.

This year’s campaign will look a little different to those familiar with past years’ processes. Current students union president Fineas Herrera hopes to engage the student body more in this election than in past years’ elections.

A few weeks ago, the Creighton Students Union unanimously passed a resolution to provide funding for all candidates. Presidential and executive vice-presidential candidates have been allowed $250 for campaigning expenses. Formerly, candidates were permitted to spend up to $500 of their own money. The goal is to eliminate financial barriers to candidates hoping to run and will urge candidates to make a larger effort to reach out to the voting population.

“We recognize that we really wanted to give everybody equal chance to show their platform and share their strengths,” Meister, who served as the vice president of finance on the board that approved the decision, said.

All candidates are making individual social media accounts to promote their platforms, another new development for this year’s campaign to encourage students’ excitement about the elections.

In addition, this year’s ballot will feature a section in which each candidate briefly explains their platform, allowing voters to make a more informed decision. A BlueQ survey for voting will be sent out to all students on Nov. 7.

Perkinson said that he is excited about these changes to the election process and has noticed more student awareness around the elections this year already.

“Even in the few days that it’s been live, I feel like there’s been more buzz around campus than last year,” he said.

Galeana encourages all to students vote in the election.

“No matter what, your voice does matter, your vote does matter, and voting participation is really important,” Galeana said.