Ten vie for freshman presidency

Several candidates expressed an eagerness to get to know their new classmates as well as a desire to have a positive impact on campus life, even as some voiced concerns that confusion over election rules hindered their ability to campaign effectively.

As of Sunday morning, three candidates did not have their statements posted on the USG candidate statement website, and two former candidates still had their statements posted. All candidates running had their statements posted by Sunday evening, but one former candidate, Thomas Sedeski, still had his statement posted.

The official candidate list, which is listed in a spreadsheet on a separate website, was up to date.

To stand for election, candidates must submit a petition in person, register on the USG website, and submit a photograph and statement for display on the USG candidate statement website. Candidates who register but neglect to submit a photograph and statement could be listed on the official candidate spreadsheet but not on the statement website, USG president Michael Yaroshefsky ’12 said, adding that the reverse is also true: Candidates who submit photographs and statements could be listed on the statement website but not on the official candidate list.

“The candidates have to register and they also have to submit a statement, which are two different forms, so obviously you could do one and not the other,” Yaroshefsky said.

A lag in updating the statement website based on the official candidate list resulted in some discrepencies between the two websites, he added.

“I don’t think they are finished making sure that [the statement site] is up to date before we send out the link for voting tomorrow,” Yaroshefsky said Sunday evening.

The clarity of elections rules has also proved to be a concern for some candidates.

Presidential candidate Emily Erickson said in an e-mail that she was confused about the candidate registration requirements. She submitted a scanned copy of her petition to the USG via e-mail, even though the official candidate handbook states that petitions should be submitted “by way of the USG mailbox at Frist Room 204.” She said she could not campaign for two days while the situation was resolved.

“Emily did not submit her petition form on paper according to campaign registration procedures, resulting in delays as she corrected her mistake,” USG elections manager Tony Xiao ’12 explained in an e-mail.

Class president candidates Anthony Paranzino, Tejal Jamidar and Nick Ricci have received 10 penalty points for late petition submissions, as have vice presidential candidate Devon Barrett, social chair candidate Andrea Baglioni, and treasurer candidates Jared Peterson and Zinan Zhang. Jamidar and Zhang are also members of The Daily Princetonian business staff.

Last spring, Class of 2013 vice president Gabrielle Cole was disqualified from her reelection campaign for positing campaign posters in violation of election rules.

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Though no candidates have received any citations for campaign literature violations this year, some were still worried.

“I think sometimes they can be kind of unclear about where to post flyers,” treasurer candidate Sophia Deng said.

Several other candidates said they had not had trouble with any of the rules, with vice presidential candidate Danielle Holman calling them “pretty straightforward.”

“They’re really fair about everything, and I like the rule about how much you can spend for your campaign,” she added. Holman is also a contributing writer for the ‘Prince.’

Trap Yates, another vice presidential candidate, expressed displeasure about a more recent addition to the rules, which asks candidates to disclose whether they will pledge not to solicit letters of recommendation from top-level administrators or other administrators they will work with as USG members.

“I can see why some people would perceive a conflict of interest inherent in a candidate later getting a recommendation from an administrator, assuming the candidate was a power-grubbing egocentrist who ran purely to make connections, but since it is the job of the electorate to not elect such people, I thought the referendum was, to be honest, ridiculous,” Yates said in an e-mail. He decided against signing the pledge.

“If I happen to establish a relationship with an administrator I meet through USG, especially if it’s an administrator I would have met anyway, I think I should be allowed to get a letter of recommendation from them,” he added. Yates is also a contributing writer for the ‘Prince.’

Candidates’ decisions on the recommendation pledge are included on the official candidate list. Last spring, the USG did post candidates’ decisions ahead of the election.

Campaigning

In addition to discussion over election rules, the candidates’ campaigns themselves have also drawn attention from freshmen.

Presidential candidate Blaire Bloxom has drawn attention for her racy business cards, which show a shirtless man and woman passionately embracing each other along with the phrase “Don’t be square, vote for Blaire.”

“I wanted to get my name out, and they’re mainly an eye-catcher,” Bloxom said of the strategy, adding that she meant the cards to be humorous.

Bloxom was one of several candidates to cite experience in high school government as a motivation for running.

Holman said that during her time in high school government, “developing community was important.”

Candidates also emphasized their desire to get to know classmates, rather than implement policy agendas.

“I’m running mainly to meet people,” Jamidar said.

Peterson noted that it is “difficult to have a content-based election” because freshmen are still learning about campus issues.

Yates echoed Peterson’s sentiments. “If you were looking for a specific platform, I don’t really have one,” he said in an e-mail. “Obviously I want to unite the class and foster relationships amongst our class, but a platform for a freshman politician is, I think, pretentious.”

Still, the brief time period allocated for campaigning has presented some candidates with difficulties, they said. Candidates could not officially begin campaigning until last Monday, a week before voting began.

“The limited opportunity to present myself to the entire school makes it difficult,” Paranzino said. “Unfortunately, we only have a week.”

Several candidates noted that without candidate events, the only way to reach voters is to talk with them in person.

“The best possible thing, in my opinion, that the USG can do would be that they have some sort of public round table for candidates,” Paranzino said, adding that “they provide a website, but people can learn more from seeing candidates face to face.”

Competition is fierce in most races, with Mary D’Onofrio, who is running for secretary, the only candidate who is unopposed. D’Onofrio is also a contributing writer for the ‘Prince.’

The large field of competition elicited mostly positive feelings from candidates.

“The high turnout of candidates speaks to the desire of Princeton freshmen to be an active part of their class, which I think is great,” presidential candidate Matt Gwin said in an e-mail. “It should make for a smooth and productive year for whoever is elected in the end.” Gwin is also a contributing writer for the ‘Prince.’

“This is indicative that Princeton is attracting students who have the will and desire to lead,” Paranzino said.

Vice-presidential candidate Sascha Brown said she hoped that the high level of interest from candidates will be matched by voters.

For some candidates, loss in the elections will prompt them to reevaluate their involvement on campus.

“If I lose the election, I might interpret that as a sign that individuals do not want me there,” Paranzino said.

Others said they intend to run for student government positions later in the year if they are unsuccessful.

Yaroshefsky added that he knows “many other freshmen who are already planning to run for USG elections in November.”

The other candidates for president are Aaron Applbaum, Jenna Rodrigues, John McNamara and Luchi Mmegwa. For vice president, the candidates are Bryan Dongre, Kevin Cen, Margaret Bertasi, Michael Moses and Suchana Costa. Merve Gurakar and Missy Nwokonko are vying, with Baglioni, for social chair. Anjali Menon is also campaigning for treasurer.