2008 Woodie Awards
Campaign integrity brought into focus
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Candidates must abide by specific campaign rules in the days leading up to the election. According to a campaign information sheet, candidates can only campaign between Thursday, Sept. 21, and Tuesday, Oct. 3, though no verbal campaigns are allowed on election days. In addition, campaigning with mail box stuffers, table tents, chalk, clothing, voice mail, or e-mail is not allowed. But one candidate violated another important rule-references to alcohol or illegal drugs in one's campaign are forbidden.
According to Jesse DePatsy '09, president of the Class of 2009, the student "referenced alcohol in a Facebook group" about his campaign. DePatsy said that this violated one of the campaign stipulations set forth by Student Congress, as drinking is an illegal activity for the mostly under-21 freshmen.
"It shouldn't be used as a campaign technique," DePatsy said.
Vanessa Coelho '08, election chair for the freshman elections, noted that in light of voter fraud in the Class of 2008 elections last spring, Student Congress has been increasingly serious about campaign integrity, as Congress is such a high-profile group on campus. She said Congress represents certain values and that if a candidate does not support these values, he or she should not run.
"That's not what Congress is about," Coelho said.
Candidates are speaking out against this sort of violation as well.
"Negative campaigning is a voter turnoff," said Ben Gatti '10, candidate for representative.
"There's a definite line between how you act professionally and socially, and those are two aspects that shouldn't be mixed when you're in a campaign such as this," said Amanda Sorkin '10, candidate for treasurer.
Other candidates are frustrated with the Facebook method of campaigning.
"I'm tired of people spamming my inbox with mail," said Andrea Petrosino '10, candidate for representative.
Though Facebook campaigns might be overwhelming to voters, it is a viable option for candidates who have exhausted their poster quota. Candidates are allowed only 10 poster boards, which may be displayed on kiosks and Slavin bulletin boards. But with 45 freshmen running for a position, space is tight.
"I think we should have more areas to put up signs," said Elian Seidel '10, candidate for representative.
Coelho said she is nevertheless enthusiastic about the elections, noting that of 120 freshmen who attended the information session, 45 are running.
"It shows that they want to get involved," she said.
-Jennifer Jarvis '07
According to Jesse DePatsy '09, president of the Class of 2009, the student "referenced alcohol in a Facebook group" about his campaign. DePatsy said that this violated one of the campaign stipulations set forth by Student Congress, as drinking is an illegal activity for the mostly under-21 freshmen.
"It shouldn't be used as a campaign technique," DePatsy said.
Vanessa Coelho '08, election chair for the freshman elections, noted that in light of voter fraud in the Class of 2008 elections last spring, Student Congress has been increasingly serious about campaign integrity, as Congress is such a high-profile group on campus. She said Congress represents certain values and that if a candidate does not support these values, he or she should not run.
"That's not what Congress is about," Coelho said.
Candidates are speaking out against this sort of violation as well.
"Negative campaigning is a voter turnoff," said Ben Gatti '10, candidate for representative.
"There's a definite line between how you act professionally and socially, and those are two aspects that shouldn't be mixed when you're in a campaign such as this," said Amanda Sorkin '10, candidate for treasurer.
Other candidates are frustrated with the Facebook method of campaigning.
"I'm tired of people spamming my inbox with mail," said Andrea Petrosino '10, candidate for representative.
Though Facebook campaigns might be overwhelming to voters, it is a viable option for candidates who have exhausted their poster quota. Candidates are allowed only 10 poster boards, which may be displayed on kiosks and Slavin bulletin boards. But with 45 freshmen running for a position, space is tight.
"I think we should have more areas to put up signs," said Elian Seidel '10, candidate for representative.
Coelho said she is nevertheless enthusiastic about the elections, noting that of 120 freshmen who attended the information session, 45 are running.
"It shows that they want to get involved," she said.
-Jennifer Jarvis '07