Four student body president candidates are beginning preparations on theircampaigns. While one candidate focuses on his Web site, another spends his time at dining halls. The other two are concentrating on connecting with individual groupsthroughout campus.
Mitch Danforth, a senior in civil engineering, said he plans to use hisWeb site as his main source of campaigning. He said he will also have normal publicity such as posters, flyers, and advertisement in the FreeExpression Tunnel.
“The format of the Web site and the idea behind my campaign is that plansfor the future need to be based on our experiences in the past,” he said.
According to Danforth, his Web site will be accessible through twoaddresses, satisfiedncsu.com and frustratedncsu.com. He said the sitesallow students to vent their feelings about the University.
“If a lot of students go to the Web site, and they’re frustrated maybe abouta certain bus stop then that’d become part of my platform, because that’show as a president I’ll work if I’m elected,” he said.
Bobby Mills, a sophomore in political science, said he is going to try tomeet people personally instead of just relying on Web sites and sandwichboards.
According to Mills, he has been eating multiple meals on-campus each dayto increase his interaction with voters.
“My biggest thing is I’m going to be meeting people, shaking a lot ofhands, doing what I like,” he said.
He said he has also been considering various campaign symbols, one ofwhich is inspired by the current United States president.
“Like you know how Bush has the W, I was going to flip it over and put Mfor Mills on it,” he said.
Adam Compton, a junior in construction engineering and management, saidalthough he plans to engage in the usual campaigning activities such assetting up sandwich boards, he feels that connecting to individual groupsand receiving their suggestions will benefit his campaign more.
“That’s really the only way to hit as much of campus as possible,is to hit as many groups as you can, because most of the people who voteare in some kind of group,” he said.
Kate Luckadoo, a junior in communication, echoed Compton’s statement.
Luckadoo said she is planning on reaching out to various student groups oncampus.
She said she is going to target minority groups that do not usuallyreceive notice, as well as groups she is personally involved with.
“My main goal is to reach out to smaller groups of students that I reallyfeel that have not been included in a lot of the decisions that have beenmade,” she said.
With elections fast approaching, SBP candidates said they are addressing their campaignprogress so far and deciding when is the appropriate time to begincampaigning.
Compton said his campaign is progressing smoothly, and he has the initialgroundwork laid.
He said the next step he plans to undertake regards compiling a list ofon-campus groups and deciding who he needs to talk to.
“So as soon as spring break is over, we can go around and start visitingas many groups as possible,” he said.
According to Danforth, he plans to wait until post-spring break to starthis main campaigning.
“I’d rather get it all ready and then put it all out there and have it beconcentrated into a few weeks,” he said.
Luckadoo said she is working with her team to make sureeverything is prepared for the main campaigning time following springbreak.
“[I’m] getting everything set up for publicity and meetings with thesevarious groups,” she said.
Mills said he completed most of the beginning stages of campaigning –he has his campaign team set up, and in the next few weeks he plans toacquire his supplies.
According to Mills, he might begin campaigning a little early this year.He referenced former SBP candidate Will Langley’s jumpstart last year, andthe positive effects Langley received during the first go-around.
“It’s important to get your name out first,” Mills said.