Letter to the Editor: February 26, 2010

Next year’s election campaign should be about the issues

While I think Student Government Association is a great opportunity for some deserving students to have a positive impact on West Virginia University, I am very unhappy with the way campaigning has been handled by some candidates this year.

This is the scenario that I encountered Thursday:

After lunch in the Side Pocket (I can’t walk upstairs to Burger King because I’ll be harassed in front of Quizno’s) I made the trek from the Mountainlair to Woodburn Hall, crossing right through the "danger zone," where numerous SGA wannabes try to entice me with little slips of paper, coupons, candy and sweet tunes.

I try to avoid eye contact and walk as fast as possible so they don’t try to give me anything, since I’ve already voted and I’ve walked through here at least a dozen times this week.

Nevertheless, an outstretched arm appears in front of my face with a little slip of paper.

This person does not say anything to me. They do not ask me how my day is going or if I have voted yet.

Therefore, all I see is an arm and a piece of paper, not a candidate.

How is this campaigning?

I thought campaigning was about issues and what actions the candidates will take if they are elected, but maybe I’m wrong.

(Side note – I was called a
"b-tch" for not accepting said slip of paper.)

Some SGA candidates haven’t gotten the memo that running for SGA shouldn’t be about how much free candy they can give out.

Instead, it should be about campaign platforms and what the candidates are actually going to do while in office.

I hope next election season candidates will reconsider their campaign strategies so that the rest of us don’t have to find new routes to class.

Brandee Cain
International studies major

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3 comments

Anonymous

Fri Feb 26 2010 12:29

I actually had two candidates from the "Mountaineer Choice" party knock and my door and ask if they could get on my computer and "show me how to vote". I refused but they tried to enter my apartment anyway. I put my arms up to keep them out and they said, "You mean you aren't going to let two pretty girls into your apartment?". Needless to say, I was a bit shocked at just how sleazy their tactics were. Is this even allowed? These people are out of control.

Junior that wants to see change

Fri Feb 26 2010 10:52

I agree, I was approached by the Pirate Party in front of the lair and was asked if I voted. I said Yes, for the other party and get the response, "You're not a real student anyway, keep walking." With attitude like that, I'm not surprised that I didn't vote for them.

I think any decisions made by the school should be voted by students in the first place, not a group of "elected representatives" that probably don't have the same interest. Send out a campus-wide email to the students to vote on something. I'm sure the entire student body won't vote for an issue, but what voting system ever gets 100% return?

Anonymous

Fri Feb 26 2010 08:10

How would you suggest that SGA candidates realign their campaign strategies so that you don't have to find a new route to class? What methods would you suggest for future SGA candidates to get their platforms and solutions heard to such a large student body?

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