A throng of cheering students clogged Bruin Walk in front of
Kerckhoff Hall Wednesday ““ which might not have been a very
uncommon sight, except that it happened at 11:57 p.m.
Thursday marked the first day of campaigning in the
undergraduate student government elections, and many candidates and
supporters turned out so they could start putting up signboards
along Bruin Walk at midnight.
Though signboards are up, there are still limits on what kind of
campaigning candidates can do. They cannot pass out fliers until
Tuesday, when voting begins for the primary election.
“I’m just really excited,” said second-year
sociology student Gregory Cendana, the Students First! candidate
for internal vice president. “I’m glad about how many
people turned out to help.”
While Bruins United and Students First! both came with many
supporters, Slate Refund’s signboard crew consisted mostly of
the candidates themselves.
Only a handful of the 13 independent candidates showed up to
raise signboards Wednesday night.
Students First! got the night started with a series of slate
cheers, then dispersed with shovels to break ground for their
hand-painted wooden signboards.
Bruins United unfurled their matching banners a little while
later, after waiting for General Representative Brian
Neesby’s father to arrive with the wood and tools for the
signboards.
Many candidates said they were happy campaigning had finally
started.
“After months of planning, it’s nice to see it all
coming together,” said Nat Schuster, a third-year
neuroscience student and a Bruins United candidate for Academic
Affairs commissioner.
Some candidates said signboard construction was a trickier
undertaking than they had anticipated.
“It’s sort of frustrating, since we’ve never
done this before,” said Shauna Peterson, a second-year
political science student and Slate Refund candidate for general
representative, as she watched other members of her slate struggle
to dig holes for the signboards.
Bruins United, having learned from experience, brought
jackhammers and power tools to make the construction easier.
Though campaigning had not officially begun until midnight
Wednesday, two candidates have already been sanctioned by the
Elections Board for violating the Elections Code, which places
strict rules on where, when and how candidates can campaign.
Third-year political science student Troy Isaac, an independent
candidate for president, was not permitted to campaign for two
hours Thursday because he prematurely posted an unapproved
candidate Web site.
He also put a campaign ad on Facebook before campaigning had
officially begun, Elections Board Chairwoman Anat Herzog said.
Third-year English and music history student Katie Tokushige,
the Bruins United candidate for external vice president, will lose
one and a half campaign hours on May 9, the first leaflet day.
Herzog said Tokushige sent out an e-mail without a required
disclaimer prohibiting redistribution of the e-mail for campaign
purposes.
Many candidates said until they can flier, they will rely on
signboards, T-shirts and personal contact for publicity.
“We’re going to be talking to as many students as we
can,” said Bruins United presidential candidate Marwa Kaisey,
a third-year neuroscience student. “We’re going to be
out all over campus. We’ll let our signboards speak for
themselves.”
Peterson said Slate Refund was waiting for their T-shirt order
to come in, adding that they would also depend on personal support
from basketball players Mike Roll and Kelvin Kim, who are pictured
on Slate Refund’s signboards, to draw students’
attention and support.
Third-year molecular, cellular and developmental biology student
Tamaron Jang, an independent candidate for Student Welfare
commissioner, said her campaign would be more low-key.
“I’m just going to try to get the word out,”
she said. “The qualifications should speak for
themselves.”
But some candidates said the frenzied campaigning comes at a
price ““ sleep.
“I have a midterm at 8 a.m. tomorrow, so I probably
won’t be sleeping tonight,” Cendana said. “During
the day we have meetings and class, so at night we’re always
studying.”
Still, most candidates said they were willing to make the
sacrifice.
“For me, it’s worth it,” Jang said. “I
wouldn’t have it any other way.”