Campaign aimed to educate about student govt.

Students who noticed the new signs on Locust Walk may have thought their worst fears had come true.

But the signs — which included phrases like “Fling is Cancelled,” “No More Hey Day” and “Fall Break Discontinued” — were part of a one-day campaign by the Nominations and Elections Committee to teach students the purpose of Penn Student Government.

Each of the signs contained “alarmist phrases” suggesting what would happen if PSG branches ceased to exist, explained College senior and NEC Vice Chairman for Education Preston Hershorn, who spearheaded the campaign. They also advertised the web site wtfpenn.net, which explains the roles of each governing branch.

“The issue of general apathy on campus for student government is something that we always encounter,” Hershorn said. “This was just sort of our next shot at it. … It’s a more in-your-face approach.”

He expressed hopes that pretending to cut traditions like Spring Fling and Hey Day would cause students to know and care more about what PSG does for them.

“The timing couldn’t be better,” he added, since students will soon be able to vote on a referendum that would decide whether to hold direct elections for the Undergraduate Assembly chairman and vice chairman for external affairs. The referendum would also change the names of these positions to UA president and vice president, respectively.

“Hopefully this drums up a little more interest [in the referendum],” Hershorn said.

After the NEC placed the signs late Monday night, the web site received 200 hits overnight, said NEC Chairwoman and College senior Rachel Levick.

Levick said she believes the campaign successfully publicized PSG’s role in student affairs.

She added that students asked her, “Is Hey Day really canceled?”

Levick said she hoped the campaign would get students to attend the State of the School tonight at 6 p.m. in College Hall 200. At the event, PSG leaders will detail what they have accomplished so far and any plans for the spring semester. Students will also have an opportunity to ask questions.

Social Planning and Events Committee President and College senior Dasha Barannik said the campaign was “a great idea to begin with.”

The campaign was a success if students learned something new about PSG, she said, like that the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education helped make sure women could attend the same classes as men.

Hershorn said he was “extremely happy with the results,” adding that as of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night, wtfpenn.net had 1,500 hits, with students staying on the site for an average of one and a half minutes.

College and Wharton sophomore Constance de Nazelle said the signs definitely caught her attention.

“I was really shocked at first, but then I went to the web site,” de Nazelle said, adding that the campaign was “a smart idea” because not many people know what the branches of PSG do.

“At the same time, it would be hilarious if UA elections were decided with a dance off,” she said, referencing another sign on Locust Walk.

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