Candidates are gearing up for Marquette Student Government's residential senator primary elections on Wednesday and offering their suggestions for improving student life on campus.

Residential senators represent students living on campus and in off-campus apartments, as well as commuter students.

Registration for the ballot closed Friday, and the final ballot was finalized Monday.

While there is generally less of a turnout for the fall elections compared to the spring elections, when students vote for the MUSG president and executive vice president, Dan Payette, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG student advocate, is not concerned about participation.

"There will be enough people to make it an election worth having," Payette said.

The role of the residential senators includes attending MUSG Senate meetings, acting as liaisons for their respective organizations and participating in their' residence hall's council, Payette said.

Some candidates have had previous experience in leadership, such as holding other hall council positions, joining various organizations on campus and participating in their high school student governments.

Voters will be able to vote online for the election. Students can log on to http://musg.mu.edu, click on the banner to vote and sign in using their CheckMarq username and password.

The general election is next Wednesday.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 13, 2005.