Spring is truly here, and Grand Marshal Week campaigning is in full swing. Candidates for offices as exalted as Grand Marshal or President of the Union all the way down to the various council representatives are active everywhere, wooing votes from the campus.
Over the next few weeks, candidates for student government will be gathering signatures, postering, and dormstorming as part of their campaigns. We’d like to offer a few suggestions for all of the candidates to keep in mind while doing so.
Avoid the mudslinging and focus on the issues. Instead of just saying what you think you audience wants to hear, take a stand on an issue, and back it up with facts.
Don’t make a mockery of the process. Stupid jokes, tasteless slogans, and over-postering only serve to annoy your constituency. Let your ideas and your stance on the issues be your voice, not your posters.
Respect people’s privacy. If someone does not want to sign your petition, discuss a topic, or shake your hand, leave him or her alone. The same goes for dorm rooms. If there is a sign on the door requesting you to leave them alone, heed the request.
Finally, take note of the fundamental rules for campaigning: the Code of Fair Campaigning Practices. Under this code, candidates are expected to conduct their campaign in a fair, honest, and decent manner. Even if you are not a candidate, but are working on someone else’s campaign, remember that you still need to follow this code.
Overall, we are asking the candidates to act with professionalism. Last year’s candidates set an exceptional example, banding together against the acts of vandalism that affected all parties and holding hard-hitting debates on serious topics. To this year’s candidates: Continue this trend, and live up to their good example.
