Candidates make final rush for votes

LSA sophomore Andy Coulouris was hanging out at Angell Hall by 4:30 yesterday morning, but he did not have a class to attend.

Coulouris, who is running for an MSA seat with the Students' Party, woke up early to hang posters in the hallways through which thousands of students would walk hours later.

As the two-day elections began yesterday, candidates took to the streets and the Diag in efforts to increase voter turnout and win over voters. Students have the opportunity to elect representatives of their college to the assembly twice each year.

Coulouris said he is trying to be light-hearted about the whole election process.

EMILY NATHAN/Daily LSA students vote yesterday in Angell Hall during the first day of MSA elections. The election continues today and students can vote online and around campus.

"If I can convince a handful of students to vote, then it's better than nothing," Coulouris said.

MSA President Mike Nagrant was out and about yesterday, trying to encourage students to vote. Campaigning face to face is very important, Nagrant said.

"I think it gives them the opportunity to tell them what you are going to do for them," said Nagrant, an LSA senior. "You want to see people you trust who you think will keep the assembly on the right track."

Nagrant said he thinks more students will vote this semester. The assembly sent a mass e-mail to the entire student body to try to encourage voting.

"I think there will be an increase in voter turnout than last year," Nagrant said. "More students will know about this especially with the mass e-mail."

LSA junior Kyu Kim said he votes every semester in the MSA elections. Kim said he usually votes for the candidates with the most well-known names, even though the party platforms are published on the Web.

"I try to go on whatever I read in the Daily," Kim said. "The main thing is recognition, which is a bad way to do it but it's the best way to do it."

LSA Rep. Barry Rosenberg, who is running as an independent candidate, said he reminded his friends to vote.

"I feel like I have the capablity to make positive changes," Rosenberg said.

LSA candidate Jill Mikoleizik, who is running with the Michigan Party, said campaigning outside on campus allows candidates to have more personal contact with student voters.

"A lot of people don't know what MSA does. Hopefully, that will change," Mikoleizik said.

LSA junior Scott Weinberg said it is important for students to be aware of who is running for representative seats on the assembly. Weinberg said he appreciates the time candidates take to get recognized.

"Basically, I voted for who I met and who I thought would do a good job," Weinberg said. "Students should vote if they care about their future at the University."

Pak Man Shuen, who heads the United Rebels Front Party slate, said the cold weather yesterday did not deter URF candidates from the party's campaigning efforts. Shuen said the presence of the candidates encouraged students to vote, but added that some students treated his party like they were loan sharks, acting like they were only there to collect payment or votes.

"Many students would not have voted if we were not there," Shuen said. "Many students act like they are politically frigid."

Douglas Friedman, who is running for a Rackham seat with the Liberty Party, is not new to the MSA scene. Friedman resigned from the assembly last year, but said that the new leadership and the possibility of Liberty Party members on the assembly may provide opportunity to make valuable changes on campus.

"The assembly needs new ideas and new interests in doing something for students," Friedman said. "New blood following the same old routine will do absolutely nothing."

Jessica Curtin, who heads the Defend Affirmative Action Party, said her party was going to stay on the Diag and hand out fliers.

"We have been active and many people see this as our ongoing fight on affirmative action," Curtin said.

Joel Hoffman, who worked the polls in Angell Hall yesterday morning, said he expects most students to vote online. Hoffman said he has sat at the polls for three straight years of elections and has observed that Angell Hall is one of the busiest polling sites.

Engineering sophomore Elizabeth Langhal, who volunteered at the polls at the Union, said activity at the polls picked up as the day went on.

"It was more than I expected from what I heard," Michels said. "It's sad so few people vote."

The polls will be open at various locations and times on campus tomorrow. Students can also vote online at http://www.umich.edu/~vote.

11-20-97