Mud-slinging??

Hey everyone, it's Friday, and for most, the weekend is here. I have some SGA VP work left to to today, as well as campaigning and trying to catch up on some schoolwork, but it will be nice to be able to relax a little from the frantic pace of the last 4 days.

First, everyone check out the Debate photos on facebook--they're a lot of fun. Thanks Jonathan. Second, I'd like to talk about an issue that emerged after the debate: so-called negative campaigning. After the debates yesterday, I got feedback from one or two people, as well as saw posted around on facebook, that the campaign was "Getting ugly" or "Turning negative." When we three candidates were told this feedback together, we all had the same reaction:
"What?"
We certainly criticized each other yesterday at the debate, particularly in reaction to the question "Who would you vote for if you were running, and why?" But I think that the candidates have to criticize each other in order for the campaign to actually give students a choice.
The candidates could talk all about their ideas for doing this and that on campus during a campaign. But most students can't put those ideas in a context--is it really feasible to turn the Executive Branch into a staff at the disposal of all student organizations, when SGA needs to run Allocations, advertise, and distribute microchillers in a very efficient and professional manner? Is it really true that only one candidate will have the ability and foresight to be a good voice for the students on the Common Curriculum committee?
For both questions, the answer is no. But without the public scrutiny of people's platforms--which that small minority called "mud-slinging"--no student will know where any of the candidates really stand. If the candidates don't criticize each other's platforms, no one will--and we'll lose the chance to actually have an election more based on issues than on popularity or volume of advertising.

Now, I would like to step back and say for a minute that I don't advocate actual mud-slinging. I don't want candidates calling each other insults or making personal attacks. Clearly, that would be out of line and unproductive for the whole campus.
But criticism and scrutiny of opponent's platforms? That's not mud-slinging: that's good, informative campaigning.

That's all I've got for now. In the meantime, enjoy this youtube video from Scrubs of the Polyphonic Spree.

Have a good Friday,

Bob Payne