Seventy-seven student government candidates prepare for fall elections

On Friday morning at 7 a.m., a cohort of Penn students will embark on the campaign trail for positions on the Class Board of 2019 and in the Undergraduate Assembly.

On Thursday night, the  candidates gathered in Huntsman Hall for a mandatory meeting with representatives of the Nominations & Elections Committee. Vice chair of elections and Wharton senior Matt Herling briefed the candidates on the rules and regulations of self-promotion at Penn.

Barred activities include hanging signs on windows and balconies, writing on the Facebook pages of official Penn Facebook groups and placing posters in areas that are not freely accessible to all Penn students, such as fraternity and sorority houses.

Herling also reminded the candidates of the monetary guidelines for campaigning. To ensure fairness, candidates are limited to spending $50 worth of resources on their campaigns, including resources they already own.

“[The NEC] is really concerned about fairness and that everyone has equal opportunity,” said vice chair for education and Wharton senior Devin Grossman. “That’s why we have spending limits to make sure we completely balance out any socioeconomic considerations.”

Grossman added that this year’s election will be one of the most competitive in the last few years.

“Every position is contested, which is cool,” NEC chair and Wharton senior Michael Roberts said.

Roberts had his own advice for the candidates.

“Definitely one-on-one conversations and going around meeting people,” he said. “A lot of people like to put up funny posters, which are great, and funny videos, which are also really great. But we see time and time again that the most effective way to campaign is to get to know your classmates, and it’s also a good way as a freshman to make friends.”

Despite emphasizing the severity of breaking the guidelines for campaigning set out both by the NEC and by Penn, Herling was optimistic about this year’s elections and reminded candidates that, at the end of the day, they are still each others’ peers.

“It’s exciting to see all of the people coming out, all of the freshmen getting involved with the leadership of the school,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a really fun, fair election.”

Voting begins at 12 a.m. next Wednesday and ends on Friday at 5 p.m.

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