With SGA elections seven days away, candidates have begun to fill the halls with posters and signs advertising their names to the student body. With the recently implemented changes switching the structure of student government from specialized student offices to a more general executive board, candidates have had to alter their campaign strategies to effectively advertise themselves as well-rounded leaders.

Blair Saunders, currently the sophomore treasurer, is running for junior class executive board. In order to promote her name, she’s making posters and may create stickers or necklaces closer to the election.

“The more people who see your name and hear of you, the more they’ll remember you come voting time,” Saunders said.

Candidates also have to find a new angle to market themselves.

“In the past, my campaign was geared towards how I’d be a good treasurer,” Saunders said. “It has changed because now I am campaigning to be a leader. I’d have to say that the change has really affected my campaign.”

Students have to find affordable and interesting ways to get their name out with a $25 budget that limits their resources.

Sophomore Jake Newberger felt that the more his name was out, the more students would notice his campaign. To do this, he purchased a 600-pack of stickers from Staples and has already started handing them out.

“I’ve only made 294 of them so far because my printer ran out of ink,” Newberger said.

He continues to use this method because “it’s worked for the past two years.”

“When they think of Newberger, they’ll think of the guy with a crapload of stickers,” he said.

Current junior class secretary Ellie Hall, who is running for senior class executive board, is also promoting her campaign with stickers but will wait until next week to hand them out.

“I think that stickers are so much more meaningful [than posters],” Hall said. “It’s more personal because when you are handing them out people can put a name to a face and ask questions.”

There have been some problems with students vandalizing and ripping down the posters that hang in the hallways. SGA sponsor Helen Stephan said that these problems have been consistent throughout the years; however, she also said that there would be a consequence if the perpetrators are caught.

A new addition to the campaigns are student-made commercials that will begin airing during all lunches this and next week.

Speeches will be broadcast next Thursday during second period and students will vote Thursday and Friday during their math classes.