Edwards ’11 drops out of USG presidential race

Brian Edwards ’11, a candidate for USG president who called for better toilet paper in University restrooms, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed candidate Michael Yaroshefsky ’12.

"The purpose of my candidacy was primarily to raise awareness about an important issue on campus: toilet paper quality," Edwards explained in an e-mail to The Daily Princetonian on Sunday. "I've decided to drop out of the race because I have discussed the issue with Mike Yaroshefsky, one of the other candidates, and he has agreed that this is an important issue that has obviously been rubbing the student body the wrong way, and that he would pursue [it] as president."

In an e-mail on Sunday evening, Yaroshefsky said that “obtaining better quality toilet paper is definitely a project worth the USG's consideration but not one worth staking an entire campaign on.”

“I am glad to hear that Brian has reconsidered his candidacy,” he said. “Since he is the president of Tiger Magazine, a humor magazine responsible for practical jokes like Bingo during President Tilghman's address to the Class of 2013, I was concerned that his candidacy was just a mockery of USG elections.”

Tiger Magazine head writer Jim Valcourt ’12 said in an e-mail that the magazine was not affiliated with Edwards' run.

“I was intending to carry ... through [my candidacy] because I was under the impression that none of the other serious candidates care about the issue," Edwards said in an interview.

Edwards' departure leaves three candidates in the race ahead of next week's election: Yaroshefsky, Jack Altman ’11 and Jack Lindeman ’11. Campaigning begins today.

Lindeman told the ‘Prince’ last week that toilet paper quality was an important part of his campaign platform.

"My platform was actually quite similar to Brian's, first and foremost comes toilet paper. I am actually very intent on bringing softer toilet paper to Princeton, it's the main reason why I am running," Lindeman said in an e-mail. "Although Brian is dropping out, I believe that his candidacy, in tandem with mine, will raise enough awareness to the issue for tissue and has put this goal within our grasps."

Altman declined to comment on Edwards’ decision to withdraw.

Edwards said he chose to endorse Yaroshefsky because of Yaroshefsky’s experience with the USG, and because of their agreement on the need for improved toilet paper.

“I think people who support me ... support not only the toilet paper issue but the idea of [the USG] doing more substantial things that have a regular effect on people,” Edwards said.

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The issue highlights a larger problem with the USG, he added. “Toilet paper was just sort of ... a poster child issue for the fact that the USG can be an organization that just puts on study breaks, or it can work on [having a] substantial impact on a daily basis.”

Yaroshefsky said that toilet paper improvements would be just one of “many campus improvements” he would like to push, from organizing tailgates and chartering buses for away games to extending the late meal budget through lunch.

This is not the first time the issue of toilet paper has surfaced in USG discussion. Then-USG president Josh Weinstein '09 said in a guest column for the 'Prince' in 2008 that toilet paper was one of the “top five non-academic concerns to students.”