The Eastern Michigan University Student Government will hold a public forum for presidential and vice presidential candidates on March 18, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. The event will take place in room 352 of the Student Center, according to the Student Government website.
Nina Freeman, the sitting vice president, and Yasrib Yasir Farook, the speaker of the senate, will appear on the ballot as presidential candidates with their respective running mates, Director of Student Services Eva Orlich Rojas and Senator Mirna Shehab.
Both tickets have emphasized centering student voices, connecting students with campus life, affordability, providing career opportunities, student mental health, expanding food access and a need for increased accessibility on campus. Engagement with and funding for student organizations has also been a unanimous candidate priority in this cycle. Both tickets have been active on social media and recently shared details about their platforms with The Eastern Echo.
The currently available student government bylaws require at least one debate to be held during the election cycle. In past years, debates have been moderated by former Echo Editor-in-Chief Katrease Stafford, political science professor Barry Pyle and former student government adviser Perry Francis, to name a few. Election Commissioner Max Butler was not immediately available for an interview request to discuss the logistics of this year's forum.
Butler told The Echo in an email on March 9 that all registered EMU students will receive an email from the university that will include the voting form. Voting in this year's election will begin on March 25 at 8 a.m. and end on March 26 at 8 p.m. Butler can be reached by email at dbutle42@emich.edu.
