GM Week is arguably the most exciting time to be an RPI student. The campus is decorated, there are events held daily by almost every club and organization on campus, professors (theoretically) lower the workload, and a sense of community pervades the campus like no other time during the year. That being said, GM Week can also be a terrible time to be an RPI student. Throughout all the fun of the week and the weeks running up to it are the students who are trying any way they can to find signatures for their nomination forms to run for student government positions. For some, GM Week can be more of a bother and annoyance than greek rush in the fall.
This year we would like to see some measure of restraint among the students seeking office. While we heartily applaud any students trying to make a positive difference on this campus, this should not come at the expense of the students they are seeking to represent.
There have already been several alarming developments in campaigning so far this year; chief among them was the Student Senate’s recent decision to overrule a Rules and Elections Committee decision banning campaigning in the campus dining halls. RNE’s decision had the best interest of the students with meal plans in mind, but the Senate overturned it in what could be called a selfish political move. The senators will argue that they did it in order to ease communication with their constituents, but those same constituents will tell you that they prefer to be left alone during their meals.
Covering every square inch of glass on the CII with your posters may seem like a good campaigning idea, but save your time and our national forests by placing only one sign up. If you see a group of students huddled together in the Union, they might seem like a prime target for a dozen signatures on your forms, but they may also be extremely stressed out with lots of work and not looking to be bothered. In general, follow RNE’s rules for campaigning instead of trying to finds ways around them. If they do catch you breaking the rules, just accept it and move on instead of belaboring the issue.
Throughout the campaign, please just keep in mind the needs of the very people you are trying to help, and avoid bothering them. If nothing else, it could come back to haunt you on election day.
