The filing period for those who wish to run for student body president is now open.

Applications became available Monday for UOSA president and vice president, Campus Activities Council chair, Housing Center Student Association president, Student Bar Association president and a variety of UOSA Student Congress representative seats, all of which are up for election in March.

To file for office, students must fill out an application and then get their college dean to verify that they are a student in good standing.

Applications are available in the UOSA office on the first floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Conoco Student Leadership Wing. They must be turned in by 5 p.m. Thursday to the UOSA office.

Candidates for UOSA president and vice president run together on tickets. Candidates for UOSA president and vice president and for CAC chair must also turn in a petition with the signatures of 501 students or submit a non-refundable filing fee of $150.

“The student body president acts as your voice and chief advocate to the university administration, the city, state and federal governments on behalf of the entire student body,” current UOSA President Franz Zenteno said. “You can bring projects to the university that can improve campus life and be a great benefit to all student members of the OU community.”

When he ran last year, Zenteno said he saw the opportunity as a chance to improve campus life as well as a chance to leave a great legacy of leadership.

“If we see things that could be improved on campus and we have the ideas to make them a feasible reality, we should stand up and make them happen.” Zenteno said. “Students with passion for others and with a passion for leading the campus towards a better campus life for OU students should get involved in our student government and make those things happen.”

Campaign materials must be registered by March 3 and official campaigning starts March 7.

Elections will be held March 29 and 30.