Dorison ’11 returns from U.K. in time for VP election

But Dorison and his running mate, USG presidential candidate Jack Altman ’11, said they are not concerned about the possible effects of Dorison’s semester abroad on their campaign.

“I’ve been following all the issues on campus,” Dorison said. “I don’t think studying abroad makes me less in touch with the student body.”

Altman added, “I think the student body understands that going abroad is a great opportunity, and the fact that Sam took advantage of this in no way detracts from his ability to be a part of USG.”

Dorison’s competitor, vice presidential candidate Alex Pretko ’12, explained that his main advantage over Dorison “is that I would be able to hit the ground running in the spring and immediately start working on issues of concern to the student body.”

“Over the past semester, I have had the opportunity to form working relationships with other members of the USG or administration,” Pretko explained. “This would allow me to work effectively as vice president, whereas Sam did not have this opportunity due to his being abroad.”

But Dorison said he did not think studying abroad would negatively impact his candidacy.

“Having a study abroad experience provides me with a valuable perspective that the rest of the candidates don’t have,” he said. “It will help me represent a part of the student body that isn’t typically represented by elected USG members.”

Dorison added that he has communicated with administrators throughout the semester about his decision to run.

“I’ve been in touch with members of the administration to ensure that I will be able to represent the student body effectively from day one,” he said. “I don’t have any schoolwork to do until spring term starts so I have two full months to get started before the term starts, if I get elected.”

Pretko also noted that being abroad could affect Dorison’s ability to campaign. “Admittedly, in some ways [going abroad] could be a disadvantage. For example, he cannot campaign door-to-door,” Pretko said. “But I believe that Sam will run an effective and competitive campaign by using online [media] such as Facebook.”

Pretko added that though he has done “some door-to-door campaigning,” he has been busy rehearsing for a play this week and has therefore “not had the chance to do anything beyond that.”

Altman noted, “A lot of campaigning work doesn’t require face-to-face time.”

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Dorison explained that he had done a lot of campaigning online and over the phone.

“For example to get the College Democrats endorsement, I e-mailed them all my answers,” he said. “I am in touch with the issues on campus. Anyone I talk to understands that. I haven’t been cut off by any means.”

Dorison has been able to maintain contact with the University throughout the semester, Altman explained. “Sam is an incredibly connected student at Princeton, so it’s been easy for him to stay in touch with what’s happening on campus,” he explained.

After deciding at the beginning of the semester to run on the same ticket, Altman and Dorison communicated by phone and Skype, “which has been really easy,” Altman said. “Regardless of any difficulties resulting from him being abroad, I felt so passionately that the two of us were the best people for these jobs that nothing else mattered.”

Elections manager Peter Dunbar ’10 noted that due to the candidates’ schedules, the annual vice presidential debate was canceled this year.

“The debate was scheduled with the availability of the candidates for USG president as a priority,” Dunbar explained. “Ideally, the candidates for USG vice president would have been available to participate as well, but that was not the case. We could not find a good time when all candidates for these two positions were available.”