Aaron Vehling

With only four days left until Student Senate elections, student voters soon will have to make a decision about whom they want as their new campus president.

Senior Andy Oettinger knows of the pressures associated with election night after running for office two years ago when he was elected Senate president.

Oettinger is no longer a part of Senate; instead, he since has been elected to the Eau Claire County Board. He has distinct memories, however, from the final night of the election.

“It was one of the most gut-wrenching, horrible experiences of my life,” Oettinger said. “I have a lot of respect for people willing to put their name out there.”

After surviving the election and the campaigning that came beforehand, Oettinger said he enjoyed his term as president.

“I loved it. It was the highlight of my college career.”

Oettinger said being Senate president took up most of his time, even more than he anticipated going into the job.

Current Senate president Sarah Schuh said she thought going into the job that she would have more control of the process as a whole. Oettinger and Schuh both said, while presidents are allowed to introduce or vote on legislation, they rarely do.

With the Senate president running the meetings, both Oettinger and Schuh said they preferred to stay out of the arguments as much as possible.

“I don’t think I’ve ever voted (as president),” Schuh said. “I think it’s important to be a neutral party so people aren’t swayed by my opinions.”

Oettinger said he only voted twice, and on those occasions, he stepped down from the podium to take part in the debate with the rest of Senate.

One issue the president won’t have much say on is the new student center referendum. Oettinger said he doesn’t know why some candidates are using that as one of their issues.

“They’re taking a stance on a non-issue,” he said. “I’m surprised it’s being brought up, because the president doesn’t have any say at all.”

Due to the student body voting on the new referendum and for a new president at the same time, Oettinger said the issue already will be decided when the new student body leader takes office.

While the presidents usually don’t exercise their executive privileges on the Senate floor, they still are active in drafting resolutions and bills to send through the Senate.

Oettinger said he often helped younger senators draft a bill, and then let them introduce it on the floor to help them get more comfortable with the procedure.

Aside from bills and resolutions, the president also acts as a liaison between Senate, the administration, and University Senate, Oettinger said.

Student body presidents also help try to get student concerns heard in the community. Oettinger said he did much lobbying and traveling to places, such as Washington and Madison.

Schuh also spoke of off-campus lobbying and doing things, such as helping students get elected to neighborhood association boards.

Both Schuh and Oettinger said, if given the chance, they would run for president again.

As for the incoming president, Oettinger said he or she should remember that Senate is the only group looking out for all of the students.

“The only thing that’s expected is your best,” he said. “It’s a lot of responsibility.”