Four students will be running unopposed for the fall student government executive branch positions. They will defend their platforms at a forum 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Rebecca Cash, the current student vice president for academic affairs, is running for student body president; Zac Cohen, the current student vice president for student affairs, is running for executive vice president; Tyler Stoklosa, a current student senator, is running for student vice president of student affairs and Carson Gordon, a current senator, is running for student vice president of academic affairs.

Student Body President Luke Young said the forum was traditionally a debate but this year they had to change it since the positions were uncontested.

Young said unlike in years past, the election commissioner will ask the questions rather than the student body president.

“It needed to be changed, there were a lot of things that were flawed with the system… It can look really funky if the president has his hand in the election and all of a sudden ‘hey all of the people he knows and likes won,’” Young said.

He said the questions that will be asked were created by the election commission and audience members are welcome to ask their own questions.

Cohen and Young said they did not realize that there would be as many uncontested positions as there are now.

Cohen said though he does not see any negative consequences arising from having uncontested spots, those who are running are already thinking about how to get more people involved in elections and student government for next year.

Campaigning for the elections will start Friday and online voting will take place on April 2 and 3. Unofficial election results will be announced on April 4.

“We have two returners and two newcomers, and I like the balance because it’s wisdom and it’s also new ideas coming in,” Young said.

Analicia Haynes can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].