21 seats remain open in Student Senate after filing for N.C. State Student Government positions ended at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 8.

Sarah Center, Student Senate secretary said she believes the reason the seats remain empty is partially due to the time commitment.

“It consumes a lot of time, and many students aren’t willing to put that much into one organization,” Center said.

Center said it is difficult for students who are already overloaded with academics and other extracurricular activities to become involved. She said in the past few years, the Senate

has seen low participation from certain areas of the University.

The University’s graduate student population is a prime example, Center said, of a group of students who have little free time to serve in the Senate.

“Some seats are always open, especially grad student seats,” Center said.

Joey Andolsen, sophomore in chemical engineering, said that students in the College of Engineering were often preoccupied with co-ops, internships, homework, and other time-consuming activities.

“Because engineering is such a demanding major, students are too busy to hold a position in Student Government,” Andolsen said.

Lindsey Pullum, chair of the Elections Commission, said she is disappointed that some elected senators do not serve out their full terms, resulting in even more empty seats.

“I’m not involved in Senate, but it is disheartening to see those who worked hard to get elected not continue the journey,” Lindsey Pullum, chair of the Elections Commission, said.

Center said the Student Senate had recognized that there may be a problem with the apportionment of seats and recently read a bill that would reapportion these seats.

However, she said, after discovering that it would go against the Student Body Constitution, Student Senate had the bill edited.

In regards to the empty seats, Center said any student could fill any Senate seat regardless of their class or college. For example, she said, a sophomore in CHASS could hold a distant position, like an Engineering-Senior Senate seat, as long as they represented the seniors in the College of Engineering instead of CHASS sophomores.

“The Senate President can appoint students to unfilled seats at any time throughout the semester,” said Center

This provides, Pullum said, an entry to students who were formerly uninvolved with the operations of Student Senate.

“It brings a great opportunity for students who haven’t gotten involved on campus to make a difference for their community,” Pullum said.

If all goes accordingly, Pullum said, next year the Student Senate will have active senators who, although they may have not been elected in the spring, perform their duties and represent their constituents well.

“I’m hopeful that the seats will be filled with passionate students next year,” Pullum said.