LAST WEEK saw the kick-off of another season of student elections at the University. Posters went up, messages were chalked on the ground and Web sites were launched.
And if it seems like there are more of these media in this election cycle than in previous ones, it might be due to the lack of a campaign spending cap, a rule incorporated with the ratification of the University Board of Election's constitution.
Leaving aside the debate on the normative ideals of student elections and campaigning, the no-limit spending policy for student elections overseen by the UBE isn't something to worry about, even for its most ardent critics.
For those who do not like the new policy, the situation is clear: It pits students from the "two Universities" (to borrow part of presidential candidate John Edwards' stump speech) against each other in an unfair manner.
One University's students come from well-off backgrounds and have cash to spend on extra things like campaigns. The other University's students take out loans to pay for their education and pinches by to go see a movie on the weekend.
Those of this class warfare view argue that the richer students' resources will crush those that are foolish enough to toss their hat in the ring.
These criticisms aren't completely foolish, but they are certainly outweighed by the realities of the campaign environment at the University and by closer analysis of possible outcomes.
First off, the significance of campaign promotion materials is overhyped. With such small electorates as compared to a state or national election, personal relations are paramount in student elections. Even the College is still sufficiently small enough that candidates or their supporters need to have personal contact with the people whose votes they are courting. For analogy's sake, look at the different styles of campaigning in the Democratic primary from state to state. Small states see more personal approaches, and larger states see more media-reliant approaches. University elections are more akin to the former.
Endorsements, which are free, are also more critical than promotional materials. Receiving an endorsement from a group such as the collective Greek governing councils, the Minority Rights Coalition, the College Republicans or the University Democrats, to name a few, has a tremendous effect on voting because they reach a broad base of people and carry the weight of the officers of that group, whom the prospective voter presumably respects. What's more, endorsing organizations don't care if someone is rich or poor. Everyone has an equal shot at being endorsed.
There also exists the distinct possibility that out-of-control spending by a candidate might backlash. Say a candidate for Student Council president outspent his or her nearest opponent two to one, pursuing an all-out blitz of posters, chalkings, and t-shirts (think Reese Witherspoon's character from the movie "Election"). With interim expense reports made public under the UBE, voters might decide that the candidate seems desperate or overly zealous in their campaign and have negative feelings about that candidate.
Less well-off candidates, while lacking immediate campaign resources, have and will find ways to bridge the money gap and use their dollars more efficiently. From holding bar nights to soliciting funds from endorsing organizations, the candidates with less money will get the resources they need. In fact, the extra effort these candidates expound might actually make them sharper and more competitive candidates. With scarcer resources, they must make their message as succinct, focused and well-targeted as possible, rather than just blanketing Grounds with weak material.
Of course, the candidate with the most money could also be the best qualified candidate in the race, which would shoot down the case of the critics of limitless spending.In any case, the new policy has not and will not adversely affect the races this cycle. Even if you still disagree, remember: It's only student elections.
Jim Prosser's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at jprosser@cavalierdaily.com.
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