It may not be November, but it certainly feels like election time on Grounds. With elections for Honor, University Judiciary Committee, Student Council and other offices right around the corner, many students running for office have been attempting to catch the student body's attention by campaigning -- and it seems that methods of advertising oneself are almost as numerous as the amount of people running for positions.
Chalking, fliers, e-mails, talking to students in person, Facebook groups and more -- the list is endless. With such a wide array of publicity methods, it is sometimes difficult to tell which type of advertisement is most effective. Nonetheless, most students have their personal opinions about what catches their eye the best.
"Mostly, I've seen the chalk on the sidewalk," first-year College student Colleen Kane said. "It's the most noticeable [type of advertisement], but usually I'm late to class so I'm hurrying past them."
First-year College student Kiki Armengol also said she notices the chalk advertisements.
"When you're walking everywhere, everyone's bound to see it," Armengol said.
Third-year College student Melissa Georges agreed that chalking is probably the most effective means of publicizing for elections on Grounds. But overall, she feels the various forms of campaigning have not really caught her attention.
"I'm on resident staff, so they're really effective in contacting us," Georges said. "But if I wasn't a first-year RA, aside from the chalk markings, I wouldn't really notice anything."
Some students, on the other hand, have noticed the Facebook groups and messages that have popped up in the face of the upcoming elections.
"That's the only place where you can see where [the candidates] stand on issues, so that's good," Kane said. "Other than that, it's just names."
Fourth-year Commerce student Ryan Johnson said he felt e-mails are the best form of campaign contact.
"It's just convenient," Johnson said. "You can't miss it. Not everybody eats at Newcomb or reads the newspaper. It's probably the best way to reach everyone."
Other students, however, feel that the best advertising is done in person.
"When they come up to you in person, it feels like a personal invite, rather than just a general sign," third-year Education student Kevin Williams said. "In Newcomb, people come up table to table and introduce themselves."
Fliers, though rampant, are seen by many as ineffective.
"There are so many fliers around that it just gets lost in the shuffle," Armengol said.
In contrast, first-year College student Sharlene Cano said she does notice fliers.
"I'm always looking at fliers, especially if they're in a place without many other fliers," Cano said.
In fact, almost every student seemed to find a different method of campaigning to be the most effective. It may be this wide array of opinions that prompts those running for election to pursue advertising through every venue possible.
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