DePaul Student Government Opens Fall Election Voting
Students are voting on representative seats and a new financial transparency referendum through October 28.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Administration
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The DePaul Student Government Association (SGA) has officially launched its fall 2026 election cycle. Students are casting ballots for various representative positions while considering a referendum on financial transparency in university investments.
Why it matters
The elections and concurrent administrative meetings address core student concerns regarding institutional accountability, campus safety, and violence prevention protocols. These efforts aim to clarify policy definitions and ensure robust emergency response procedures.
The ballot features 17 representative seats for the School of Music, The Theatre School, College of Business, Jarvis College of Computing, School of Continuing Studies, and College of Communication. Voting occurs via links distributed to student email addresses.
The players
DePaul University
A private Catholic research university based in Chicago that serves as the setting for the current SGA election and policy initiatives.
Cornell University
An Ivy League institution in Ithaca, New York, whose reported mishandling of a sexual assault case is informing DePaul student government policy discussions.
The details
In addition to the election, the SGA is advocating for a Title IX amendment that defines coercion as the use of unreasonable pressure that overcomes a person's freedom to choose. Leaders are also coordinating with university administrators to review safety standards following reports of sexual assault handling at other institutions like Cornell University.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: SGA elections open and administrative meetings begin.
October 28, 2026: The SGA voting period closes and the Speech and Expression Advisory Committee visits the general body.
October 29, 2026: SGA leadership meets with the Speech and Expression Advisory Committee.
Culture Shift
The proposed coercion amendment seeks to expand the interpretation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 at the university level. This move reflects a broader student movement to institutionalize more stringent definitions of consent and support within campus policy frameworks.
Students should monitor their university email accounts to participate in the ongoing election process. Those concerned about campus safety policies should look for updates from the SGA following their upcoming meetings with administrators.
The takeaway
Student government elections represent a vital opportunity for residents of the university community to influence local policy and financial transparency. Engaging with these ballot initiatives allows students to shape the safety and governance standards of their campus environment.
What happens next
SGA leaders are scheduled to meet with the Speech and Expression Advisory Committee on October 29, 2026.
Further reading
For more background on university governance and student leadership, visit the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The DePaulia.
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