Campaign week chaos draws near

With the winter season reaching its peak in the prior weeks, many Auburn students have failed to recognize one of the biggest seasons is nearly just a week away from reaching Auburns campus, election season.
Viewed by many as a time to avoid the concourse and the bombardment of overjoyed campaigners that lurk on the concourse, others who have put much of their time and effort into their dream of becoming a member of the Student Government Association, this time represents opportunity.
For these Auburn students, the journey to fill a seat in SGA began back on Nov. 12 of last year with the first Major Candidate Info Session and will end with the election callouts on Tuesday, Feb. 11. However, the amount of work and preparation that goes on during this period is often overlooked.
"There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on prior to the election," said Wilson Yielding, senior in human exercise science and behavior and candidate for treasurer in last year's SGA elections. "Watching everyone come together and support the candidates is a lot of fun and really shows Auburn's true colors and what the University is about."
During this period, candidates can use all of the help they can get to get their name and platform out to Auburn students.
"For the people who want to get involved in elections, they can contact the candidates directly," said Jessica Bishop, SGA executive director of elections. "The biggest way people can help is by voting and encouraging people to vote and look at candidates platforms."
In between deciding to run for a seat on SGA and the ending callouts, comes a large amount of work.
A student running for a major candidate position must choose his or her platform, or what the main focus of the campaign will be, as well as build a campaign staff, design posters and billboards, and come up with awith a gimmick better than the opposition, all of which can be tedious work.
The campaign staff for campaign organization is limited to 6 people, the top 5 plus the campaign manager, whose jobs range from organizing committee heads to thinking about strategies and slogans.
The work, difficult enough in itself, is made more difficult by the election laws in the Student Government Association's Code of Laws that govern the campaigning and elections of candidates.
For example, Election Law 708.7.3.3 states the following: "Black and white may not be used for primary or secondary colors, but may occupy up to 10 percent of the overall piece of Campaign Material for the purpose of augmenting a Candidate's design."
Or this election law, Law 708.7.9.4 which states, "that all billboards must be at least ten (10) feet from the nearest road to the billboards closest point to that road."
While these laws serve a purpose, they take away from the matters SGA candidates should truly be focusing on, such as bettering the school for its students and faculty.
"Some of the laws may hinder some points of campaigning such as who candidates can contact," Bishop said. "However, these laws are in place to protect candidates and Auburn students. They uphold the integrity of the elections and also serve a purpose in protecting students from being bombarded by campaigners."
Over the next week, students on campus will be barraged with free hand outs ranging from buttons to koozies, food to craft supplies and many more items as a way for candidates to earn votes from passing students.
In the past, students have not typically reacted majorly to a candidate's platform, but rather voted for the person with the most gimmicks or coolest t-shirts, ultimately becoming what seems to be a popularity contest.
"I hope that people will look at the candidates platforms," Bishop said. "I know that some people will vote for someone because one of their friends did or because they know the person but I really hope that people will pick a platform to support and get involved in that candidates campaign."
However, in attempt to prevent the election from becoming a popularity contest, candidates will have the opportunity to promote their platform and beliefs in a debate on Monday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
This venue will provide candidates an opportunity to show debate goers that the election should not be based on gimmicks or handouts, but rather should be based on the beliefs and change each candidate has to offer the University.
All of the work prior to and during the campaign week comes down to voting day and, ultimately, the release of all of the election results at callouts.
Formal Campaigning will begin Feb. 5 and will come to a close on Feb. 11 when students will vote prior to the results being released at callouts Feb. 11 at 10 p.m. on the Cater Hall Lawn.
The following is a list of candidates and position sought:

SGA President:
1. Logan Powell
2. Hayden Harrelson

SGA Vice President:
1. Olabode Anise
2. David Wisdom

SGA Treasurer:
1. Richmond Gunter

Miss Auburn:
1. Caroline Stephens
2. Kinsey Crow
3. Jazzmin Carr
4. Rebekah Davis
5. Sloane Bell

Senator-At-Large:
1. Elizabeth Moody (The Extra Mile)
2. Katie Knell (The Extra Mile)
3. Jackson Pruett (The Extra Mile)
4. Walker Byrd (The Extra Mile)
5. Will Hightower (The Extra Mile)

College of Agriculture
President:
1. Brady Peek (The Shovels)
2. Andrew Pinyan (Sustainable Solution)

Vice President:
1. Sarah Stephenson (Sustainable Solution)

College of Architecture, Design, and Construction
President:
1. Christine Cameron

Senator: (1)
1. Justin Matthews
2. Nicole Jones
Raymond J. Harbert College of Business

President:
1. Alexandra McGauley (Business Party)
2. Jake Wright (Lowder Than the Rest)

Vice President:
1. Rhyan Ruf (Business Party)
2. Cole Kinchler (Lowder Than the Rest)

Senator: (4)
1. Rob Garcia (Lowder Than the Rest)
2. Charles Welch (Business Party)
3. Abby Lemons (Lowder Than the Rest)
4. Griffin Donnelly (Business Party)
5. Brett Walton (Lowder Than the Rest)
6. India Way (Lowder Than the Rest)

College of Education
President:
1. Addison Combs
2. Kirby Webb

Vice President:
1. Annie Page

Senator: (3)
1. Kathlina Roat
2. Elizabeth Jackson
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
President:
1. Bethany Jenkins (enGINNeering)

Vice President:
1. Brayden Payne (enGINNeering)

Senator: (6)
1. Sharon Kalva
2. Lucas Tribble (enGINNeering)
3. Meredith Jones (enGINNeering)
4. Daniel Hess (enGINNeering)
5. Jeremy Wiley (enGINNeering)
6. Conor Flynn
7. Neal Bhavnani
8. John LeMaster (enGINNeering)

Graduate School
Senator (1)
1. David Burel

College of Human Sciences
President:
1. Emily Levinson

Vice President:
1. Bennett Davis

Senator: (1)
1. Anna Jane Taylor

College of Liberal Arts
President:
1. Rachel Gamlin (All In Party)

Vice President:
1. Hannah Dean (All In Party)

Senator: (4)
1. Caroline Beauchaine (All In Party)
2. Dillon Nettles (All In Party)
3. Meredith Smith (All In Party)
4. Sam Wilcox (All In Party)
5. Savannah Silver (The Golden Ticket)
6. Savanna Williams (The Golden Ticket)
7. Rachel Eilers (The Golden Ticket)

Harrison School of Pharmacy
President:
1. Aimee Paterson
2. Neill McNatt
3. Veronica Mote
4. Elise Aucoin

Vice President:
1. Tyler Dalton
2. Adam Harnden

Senator: (1)
1. Joe Cotton
2. Devon Burhoe

College of Sciences and Mathematics
President:
1. Colson Smith (Fix the Temp in Parker)

Vice President:
1. Sarah Whitmore (Fix the Temp in Parker)

Senator: (4)
1. Edgar Solis
2. Collin Myrick (Fix the Temp in Parker)
3. Brandon Honeywell (Fix the Temp in Parker)
4. Natalie Thomley (Fix the Temp in Parker)
5. Patrick Michael (Fix the Temp in Parker)
6. Eric Turner