Students kick off MSA campaign

Flashy posters, flyers and catchy slogans are beginning to litter lecture halls and the Diag as aspiring politicians kicked off their campaigns yesterday for seats on the Michigan Student Assembly.

But this winter's candidates say their campaign strategies will be more focused on personal contact than postings this election season.

Defend Affirmative Action Party candidate Nora Coleman said she is relying on networking to win an LSA representative seat on the assembly.

"I think it's more effective to get in better touch with representatives rather than just walking by and voting on a face or a poster," said Coleman, an LSA first-year student. "While posters are good in that they get your name out, it doesn't really do much or say much."

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily LSA Rep. Ryan Friedrichs, an LSA junior who is running for Michigan Student Assembly president, sits atop a kiosk while posting a flyer announcing his campaign.

MSA presidential candidate Ryan Friedrichs, who is running as an independent, said his campaign strategy is to form direct and personal contact with voters.

"Mainly, it's person-to-person contact," said Friedrichs, an LSA junior who chairs the MSA Communications Committee. Friedrichs said he will personally visit residence halls, students' houses and college student government meetings to reach out to students.

Michigan Party candidate Joseph Paunovich said his approach to his campaign for LSA representative on the assembly also will be centered around "going out and meeting people" and "just getting to know people."

"I think that the mass flyer isn't as effective as a word of mouth campaign," said Paunovich, an LSA first-year student.

"I think (mass postering doesn't) give a reflection of candidates as much as talking to them does. With the University so large, it's hard to reach out and know people," he said.

Friedrichs said that although he is running as an independent candidate, he is not worried about the absence of a party's help in contributing funds to his campaign.

"Flashy posters and expensive banners may get your name out, but it won't get you elected," Friedrichs said. "We may be at a slight disadvantage because of our lack of funding, but in the end, it's face-to-face and people-to-people contact that will win."

Vice presidential candidate Michael Enright also said he is not concerned about financing his campaign. Enright is running with the New Frontier Party.

Students' Party presidential candidate Trent Thompson said his low-budget campaign will not affect his chances for election. But Thompson said he may have a difficult time getting his name out to students.

"I would hope that when people vote, they'll vote on issues instead of faces," Thompson said. "It depends on the education of the voter."

Thompson said he has spent about $150 on posters and campaign supplies.

"It's ridiculous how much money people do spend on elections for student government," Thompson said. "We're trying to go as cheap as possible."

A candidate information site is available for students to view on the web. The site includes the ideas and platforms of candidates.

Friedrichs said the site is important for students to visit the site in order to "turn their focus more back to ideas and projects."

03-11-98