I’ll admit it: I was the one who suggested the classy-sounding titles. It was my feeling that the more seriously we took the Georgetown University Student Association campaign, the more important we could pretend it was. To avoid internal struggles, the candidate did not want to designate a “Campaign Manager.” So instead, I devised a list of snazzy titles to give to each member of the staff. We even had an Assistant to the Deputy Communications Director, whom we lovingly referred to as Ginger.
We thought we were taking the whole affair too seriously, and that we were blowing it way out of proportion. We started planning well ahead of time, and we thought that clever stickers were a really neat idea. We had ambition, but we still kept a certain sense of sanity in our campaign preparation.
Well, last Thursday night, my feelings about GUSA and the entire election process changed dramatically. When I first read through the GUSA by-laws and the constitution, I imagined a dignified group that would be the closest thing to “real government” you could find on campus. When I went with my candidate to New South to place our banner on Thursday night, those feelings went right out the window.
The film Representing You wasn’t that far from the truth. In fact, I think even more exaggeration should have been used to properly characterize GUSA campaigns. I can only imagine how much worse the GUSA Presidential campaigns are compared to what I saw for just the GUSA Assembly election.
We arrived at New South a good hour before midnight, because mind you, no one is allowed to put up posters before 12:01 a.m. This was yet another example of painfully strict and annoying campaign regulations we faced. Some regulations, I can understand. However, most of the rules are downright stupid. For example, having to number each sticker we intended to wear to support the campaign. There is no limit on the number of stickers we could have, so I don’t see what the fuss is about. One other example of the brilliance of the GUSA Election Commission is that if a poster is taken down, ruined or destroyed, you are charged again if you wish to replace it. So basically, if someone takes down your $3 poster, and you want to replace it, you are deducted another $3?but you still only have one poster! Ah, the logic!
As more and more candidates and their staff arrived, fighting over prime banner placement space began. One group even had a ladder that they “borrowed” from the Jesuit Community. Frantic plastering of flyers while bickering over prime banner space made me question some of the candidates’ true motives. It was quite a disturbing scene to witness.
When the GUSA election official came to oversee the fiasco, we thought we would be one of the first to get our banner up. However, due to circumstances out of our control, and out of our understanding, we didn’t get our banner up until 1:30 a.m. We thought the order would be determined based on the order in which we arrived at New South. Originally placed third in line, we were soon bumped down to practically last. We are still unsure as to why the other groups who arrived after us were put ahead in order. GUSA election officials and documents never made it clear as to how the order would be determined. The experience only left us confused and upset. Claim the spot in the order in which you arrived at New South, and put your banner up in that spot. Why would that be so hard?
I had made the faulty assumption that the GUSA elections would be taken somewhat seriously by those involved. However, to me it seemed to be just as petty as a high school election. I half-expected to see Tracy Flick walk in to New South with a giant “Pick Flick” banner.
The sad thing is that the people who took the campaign seriously and the ones who would probably do the best job are not the ones who sought publicity obnoxiously. So the first-year class ends up electing those who were the most visible?for better or worse ??and this doesn’t help anyone.
What I have seen in the past week has diminished my view of GUSA and the GUSA election system. While the goal of the strict rules might be to promote a fair campaign, in practice it sure doesn’t result in a professional campaign. Instead, we are left with a campus littered with large and annoying campaign banners that, for the most part, aren’t even funny, original or clever.
GUSA needs to realize things have to change. GUSA can serve a useful role in student life at Georgetown. However, to most people, the image they see is a group of ambitious, “wannabe politicians” who just like to see their name plastered everywhere. I don’t want next year’s group of first-years to become as cynical about GUSA as I have.
GUSA candidates also need to realize that while they have not yet been elected, they are still representing the organization. What students see in the campaigns is what they will base their opinions of the entire organization on. I might be jaded because we didn’t get the best “spot” in New South, or that our stickers got smeared in the rain, but I believe the entire thing could have been much better organized. I may be bitter, but at least I see there is some room for improvement. Hopefully GUSA can realize how these campaigns go awry and try to change things for the better. Oh, and a side note to those who thought that it would be really original to have flyers that stick off the wall like little flags: They are really annoying. I think I speak for everyone when I say that every time you see one, you just want to rip that sucker down.
This reflects the author’s opinions only and was not endorsed by the rest of his candidate’s staff.
Dave Stroup is a first-year student in the School of Foreign Service. He claims he isn’t as cynical in real life.
