Election season tends to force candidates to highlight and deliver their finest qualities to their voting constituents. For Grand Marshal and President of the Union candidates, it is a time to present their best argument for why they deserve the burdensome task of leading the student body and Union, respectively. This election season, however, we have seen some less than healthy campaigning—the candidates, especially those running for GM, have not only been promoting their grand plans for student government, but have also turned the contest into one of insult that borders on character assassination.
The staff of The Polytechnic certainly likes to see a competitive race where candidates question the ideals and plans of their opponents. Such spirited messages prevent stagnant campaigning and force candidates to present realistic platforms. They also help foster creative new ideas for the future of student government and Rensselaer. This GM Week, candidates crossed the border of what is considered spirited, and instead focused on making demeaning statements in an attempt to make voters doubt the experience or credibility of the opponents.
In the days leading up to elections, the RPI community received instant messages and e-mails that were the equivalent of unsolicited spam, not with messages describing candidate platforms, but instead with impersonations of or attacks on the opponent. Candidates posted signs contrasting themselves to their adversaries not on the basis of a legitimate campaign platform, but instead based on libelous rhetoric. Other parties joined in to spin others’ messages for the sake of their own agendas, undermining the purpose of an open forum. Candidates need to realize that they cannot run their elections as popularity contests and still be considered credible representatives of the student body and Union.
Elections bickering should not get to the point where other parties have to step in and remind the candidates that they are adults. Campaigning is the first time that a candidate presents his or her face to the public. As with anything, it is always best to present oneself in a good light, especially during a first appearance. As elected leaders, our representatives should be mindful that their constituencies are reflected in their actions. As an institute of higher learning, we will not stand to be represented as immature and contemptuous.
