The Oakland University Student Congress election season is off to a running start.

Candidates for student body president and vice president were finalized after Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline for turning in election packets passed.

OUSC administrative assistant Christina Quigley said the candidacies would not be official until the packets that were turned in are checked thoroughly for completion.

Packets became available in early February.

Students running must have obtained 250 student signatures in order to become candidates in addition to fulfilling academic requirements. A typed statement is also necessary.

Those approved will be running in the general election, provided each candidate attends one mandatory orientation session Thursday or Friday.

While the elections committee made up of Quigley and other students has named no official candidates, some students have launched their campaigns already.

Shakita Billy and Eric Sturgis, Tom Cruz and Brett McIsaac, Benjamin Eveslage and Elisa Malile are the known tickets for president and vice president, respectively.

On Tuesday morning, Eveslage and Malile announced their candidacy via e-mail to student organization leaders followed by an official e-newsletter.

Billy and Sturgis have a campaign banner hanging near Pioneer Food Court.

Cruz said that he and McIsaac, both members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, announced their intent to run for OUSC executive office in late October.

At press time, as the deadline was looming, Quigley said she had received four packets.

Legislator candidates, who do not have to collect signatures, will also be on the ballot. There is an anticipated uptick in the number of people running, creating a contest for the first time in recent memory.

The official campaign period will begin at the student congress candidate meet-and-greet and dance-off event, which will be held Monday, March 7 in the Fireside Lounge at noon.

A debate between the vice presidential candidates will take place March 18. The presidential hopefuls will face off March 23.

Voting will take place March 28-30 and winners will be announced April 1.

In addition to picking a presidential ticket and 2011-12 OUSC legislators, student will vote on ballot proposals.

Important Dates:

Monday, March 7 — Candidate Meet and Greet, noon, Fireside Lounge

March 18 — Vice Presidential Debate, noon, Fireside Lounge

March 23 — Presidential Candidate Debate, noon, Fireside Lounge

March 28-30 — Voting Days, Fireside Lounge and online

April 1 — Announcement of Winners, noon, Pioneer Food Court

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The Oakland Post will be updating this article as information becomes available.