The new first-year representatives for the Georgetown University Student Association were announced Tuesday night after an election process described by the election commissioner as especially difficult.
“It was really dirty,” said Dan Monico (CAS ‘06) and Mike Barrett (CAS ‘06) in reference to the four-day-long campaign process and election that ended Tuesday night.
Barrett and Monico, who campaigned together, joined with the two other winners, Mariana Kihuen (CAS ‘06) and Octavio Gonzalez (CAS ‘06), to celebrate their victory after the results were announced in Sellinger Lounge.
Not only were posters and fliers torn down during the campaigns, but insulting posters were put up in their place.
“We had at least 10 signs that we found around campus about us being rich white kids and why you should vote for us,” Barrett said.
Barrett and Monico said that they faced rumors accusing them of putting up the racist signs, which many students asked about when they campaigned door to door.
“It was really annoying and hurtful that we had to explain to people that we weren’t racist,” Monico said.
Gonzalez also found signs insulting his name that said students should not vote for someone whose name they can not even pronounce.
Kiheun said that she was disappointed in this aspect of the campaign.
“It is really sad that people have the courage to do that but can’t come up to you and discuss their issues with you. They automatically think that because you are from another culture you don’t know what the issues are,” Kiheun said.
Election Commissioner Ramya Murali (SFS ‘03) said that she felt that this year’s election was especially problematic.
“Honestly, during every election you have some degree of people who are apathetic about student government, who will take down fliers or choose to fight against the process. But this year it seemed like it happened a lot more,” Murali said.
Sophomore Representative Luis Torres (CAS ‘05) said that this election had more negative undertones than last year’s.
“Hopefully this can be resolved … If we let this pass by, we’re not doing everything we can to reach this community,” Torres said.
Daissan Ortiz (MSB ‘06), one of the 11 candidates, said that running for GUSA was a politcal learning experience.
“Unfortunately some people’s feelings were hurt because people were insensitive about diversity. Those are some of the issues I proposed to deal with during my campaign,” Ortiz said.
The four elected representatives all said that they were surprised about what went on during the election.
“There has been a lot of racial tension … To me it is rather ignorant. A part of being a leader, however, is knowing how to absorb those comments and not let them get to you,” said Kiheun. “This is very surprising, considering that Georgetown University has a lot of international students and we consider ourselves a very diverse university. Whether it is here or anywhere else, it is not acceptable.”
On midnight Friday, Sept. 27, all 11 candidates began campaigns which lasted until Monday, Sept. 30 at midnight. During that time, the candidates hung fliers and banners around campus and walked door to door to introduce themselves to as many first year students as possible.
First-year representatives remain optimistic about serving on GUSA.
“There is a lot of room for improvement. As freshmen we are able to see the issues that sophomores, juniors and seniors don’t see,” Gonzalez.
Torres described the racial biases during the campaigns as “frustrating and very sad.”
“I wish the election process would have been different in how it played out,” Torres said. “For better or worse, the candidates who were elected represent diversity.”
