Yesterday, ASG held their annual Meet and Greet for freshman senator candidates in the main lounge of Baldwin.

The 20 candidates mingled with their peers, pitching their platforms over pizza and soda.

“The people that are running this year are excited,” said Director of Student Involvement Warren Chapline, ’13. “It’s really good for them to verbalize that to their class. I think this year’s candidates have done a good job of getting the word out.”

Students who attended the event agreed that their friends who are running are very enthusiastic as well as eager to encourage other freshmen to vote.

Samantha Hopkins, ’14, decided to vote because of the involvement of her peers.

“I’m voting because a lot of my friends are running and it seems like they would do a really good job,” she said.

Many of the freshmen in attendance also seemed to feel a social responsibility to vote.

“I want to have a say in who’s making decisions about my class,” said Taylor Hinton, ’14.

Corey Carlson, ’14, agreed. “You’ve got the right to vote so you’ve got to exercise it,” he said. “I know this is small-scale but it does make a difference.”

This spirit of making a difference was reflected in many of the candidates’ campaigns.

“I did it in high school and I enjoyed it,” said Lauren Moor, ’14. “I like to help out, so why not help out here too?”

Craig Hayes, ’14, who got his political start working with the Obama campaign, believes that the class of 2014 has a lot to offer Allegheny academically and socially.

For Michael Haas, ’14, running for a position as a senator seemed like the logical thing to do to make a difference at the campus that he has come to love so quickly.

“If I can help my community, I’m going to,” he said. “We need and we should get everyone in the class of 2014 involved in this process.”

Yet many of the freshman voters seemed confused as to what exactly ASG does.

“ASG is…what is it that ASG does?” Hinton said to another freshman girl standing next to her, who provided no response.

“I know absolutely nothing about ASG,” said Hopkins.

Some attendees expressed the wish that ASG would reach out more to explain their function on campus.

“I think they should e-mail us,” Carlson said.

“If you check your e-mail and it’s right there, you’re more inclined to do it right there.”