Candidates appreciate longer campaign period

Last semester, the SGA Elections Board voted to fit the campaign period into the academic calendar. As a result of this vote, this year's campaign period grew by two days, a changed welcomed by candidates.

Carl Bacon, the convener for the elections board, said the campaign period has grown since 2000, from the original five days to the current nine days.

Bacon said the vote to fit the period to the academic calendar each year allows the elections board to make the campaign period and the voting days that follow a more effective process and more convenient for students.

Bethany Powe, a senior majoring in telecommunication and film, is the chairwoman of the elections board.

Powe said her main focus in supporting the vote was, in fact, to extend the campaign period.

"I just wanted the candidates to have a little bit longer to campaign this year because it just seemed a little too quick in the past," she said.

For candidates, the longer period means more time to talk to and interact with students.

Aubrey Coleman, a sophomore majoring in international business, is running for vice president of Academic Affairs. He said the more he talks to students while campaigning, the more ideas he has to work with once he is in office.

"I personally think we have an ideal system of campaigning right now," he said. "I believe the system we have right now is very effective."

Coleman did note, however, that he would like to increase the preliminary period of the campaign, which would allow candidates to talk to more student organizations.

Cason Kirby, a junior majoring in political science running for president, said if the campaign period is longer, then candidates have more opportunities to get to know students.

"[Students'] lives are busy and I feel the debates and personal exchanges with students make them better informed," he said.

Stephen Saucier, a junior majoring in management information sciences, is running against Kirby for president. He said the extension has particularly helped him as an independent candidate.

"I think it was useful," he said. "We were able to do a little bit more than otherwise. We have less resources [than greek candidates] so a greater campaign period allows more contact and involvement."

Current SGA President R.B. Walker said he agreed with the current candidates that the additional time was beneficial.

"Last year I wish that I had a few more days, so I definitely support the decision of the elections board," he said.