Student government leaders decided Wednesday not to lower the grade point average requirements for students running for office.

The current standards are 2.4 for executive board officers and 2.3 for senators in the Associated Students of Bakersfield College.

On Wednesday, the senate voted 5-4 to keep the current requirements. If the average had been lowered, elections may have been postponed.

The Associated Students of Bakersfield College hope to have the election for the revised constitution by the end of this week, said Andrew Bickers, director of student activities.

An ASBC committee has changed the entire document, Bickers said, making it more efficient, easier to understand and revising some of the position responsibilities.

Some positions have been eliminated, and some have been added.

“The hope of the committee,” he said, “is to have a student government that’s more effective, more efficient, and better students.”

The general spring election is coming up as well, with a tentative date set for the first week of May.

“You are voting for individuals who for the next year are going to speak for you, work for you and decide how your money is spent,” Bickers said.

The most visible examples are clubs, Homecoming and Spring Fling.

Officers are involved on campus, are on hiring committees and could possibly speak for BC at a state level.

“It’s crucial that you exercize your right to choose the students representing you,” he said.

– Staff writer Rudy Llamas contributed to this story.