Some ignoring party labels

Amidst the banners, stickers and logos bearing the names of five student parties, 15 independent candidates are trying to stand out from the crowd as they compete for seats on the Michigan Student Assembly.

"I chose to run independently so I could focus on the issues and never feel strained to vote on party lines," said LSA Rep. Barry Rosenberg.

Rackham Rep. Mike Pniewski has run as an independent for the past two years - and won.

"I didn't feel I needed to be in a party to be elected," said Pniewski, who is running for his third term on the assembly. "One party supports this and one party supports that. I'm able to support my own decision."

Rosenberg was elected to the assembly last year as an independent, although he has been a member of both the Students' Party and Wolverine Party.

"I think parties can be good for people to educate them on how to campaign," said Rosenberg, adding that he turned independent out of frustration with the MSA party system.

But Rosenberg said he would recommend party affiliation for students running in their first election.

"On most student issues, there is a pretty large degree of consensus on what's good for students," Rosenberg said.

LSA first-year student Erik Hofer, an LSA student government candidate, said he didn't fit into any one party.

"I really had trouble identifying with either party," Hofer said. "Parties force you into a certain viewpoint. Joining a party would have forced me into one side or the other."

While many party members enjoy the ease of having a large organization to advertise for the entire party slate, many independents rely on friends to help spread the word.

"It's harder to get elected as an independent because when you run with a party, your friends vote for you and for everyone in your party," Rosenberg said.

Pniewski said the small size of Rackham eases the amount of campaigning he has to do.

"I'm not spending any (money)," said Pniewski, who has not put up posters, but sent out e-mails and spoke with graduate student groups. "You have to get friends to tell friends - it's a word-of-mouth campaign rather than a postering campaign."

Similarly, Hofer said he has not spent any money during his campaign.

"Killing a lot of trees to make fliers doesn't make sense because (the fliers) get overlooked," Hofer said. "If someone cares about the election they would look into the candidates and see my information on the Website."

Some independent candidates said money isn't so much of an obstacle as is the time required to campaign as either an independent or party candidate.

"The limiting thing on postering is not the cost on xeroxing, it's the time which is expensive for everyone," Rosenberg said. "I've done a ton of postering."

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