MSA candidates meet as fifth party enters fray

Candidates discuss issues of financing, campaigning process

By Susan T. Port
Daily Staff Reporter

Two weeks before election day, the Michigan Student Assembly's candidate list just got bigger.

After appealing to MSA on Wednesday night, the Defend Affirmative Action Party became eligible to run in the upcoming November elections, despite filing past the 5:30 p.m. deadline last Friday.

Since MSA compiled its election packets late, the assembly allowed DAA to join the other four parties.

All candidates running from five student parties - DAA, Liberty Party, Michigan Party, Students' Party and the United Rebels Front - met last night to discuss campaign regulations.

LSA senior Jessica Curtin, who is running under the DAA's platform, said it was ridiculous for MSA to try to stop her party from running because of a technicality. Curtin added that if her party did not run, the issue of affirmative action would not be addressed in the election.

"I am totally thrilled to get the chance to have our issues heard," Curtin said.

LSA Rep. Ryan Friedrichs, who chairs MSA's Communications Committee, said having an extra party on the ballot will give student voters more choice.

"(It) gave room for the court to balance out the fairness of elections," said Friedrichs, an LSA junior.

During last night's meeting, all candidates were told to limit spending to only $500. Receipts also must be given to MSA Election Director Yejide Peters.

Peters said the objective of last night's meeting was to clarify and provide information to MSA candidates.

"We wanted a face-to-face meeting with the candidates," said Peters, an LSA senior.

MSA Vice President Olga Savic said when candidates have more money than their running mates, they have an advantage. She pointed out that running with a party also helps candidates gain publicity.

"The thing about the parties is pooling together resources of the candidates so you can get your name out there," Savic said. "I rode along the parties' coat tails."

LSA sophomore Ann Coulouris, who is running with the Students' Party, said last night's meeting illustrated the importance that money plays in elections.

"It cleared up the depth of some people's pockets and their willingness to employ all financial means necessary," Coulouris said.

"I am afraid of what will happen to a guy like me who doesn't have money to throw around in a election like this," Coulouris added.

LSA Rep. Pak Man Shuen, who's running with the United Rebels Front, disagrees that candidates buy their votes in MSA elections.

"Voter turnout is so low. Capping election spending will only make it lower," Shuen said.

Dan Serota, head of the Michigan Party, said limits censor student candidates because every piece of campaign literature has to be stamped by MSA officials.

"It's a bad idea for MSA to say how much they can say and what they can't say," Serota said. "If everything handed out has to be stamped out, it will take years."

11-07-97