SGA candidates announced

Student Government Association hopefuls gathered in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union last night for the SGA Campaign Workshop. After taking a written constitutional examination and passing with a minimum of 80 percent, qualified candidates were posted outside the SGA offices at 1 p.m.
They were then required to attend the workshop, which was offered at two separate times, as many candidates were sitting their writing proficiency exam. In keeping with the election codes, the Commissioner of Elections is required to offer at least two “informational meetings at various times scheduled in such a way as to allow for all candidates to easily attend one (1) meeting.”
Ave Bonham, who is the program advisor for the Student Union, gave aspiring class queens a bit of advice and gave clarity to the university’s responsibilities.
“The ladies just need to have poise, personality and professionalism. They should have charisma and be able to balance their classes.”
Candidates were advised against campaigning in mass media outlets, such as social websites like Facebook and Myspace.
Active campaigning, according to the election codes, “is any action done … attempting to make a person’s name known to others as a candidate…for election.”
Election Commissioner Brandon Seals urges candidates to be aware of their entire campaign teams during elections. Seals cited several occurrences where candidates were sanctioned-a penalty for noncompliance specified in a law-from a day to two weeks because of actions of those on their campaigns.
“Just make sure that you get everything stamped and have all signs removed on election day,” said Seals.
Seals, Bonham and SGA advisor Twyana Cain all encouraged questions in order to avoid confusion during campaigning and warned candidates that the meeting would serve as a first warning, leaving future infractions to a minimum one day sanction of no campaigning.