With pizza, election season begins

Voting seems a lot less tedious when it comes with cotton candy.

This afternoon, the Nominations and Elections Committee held its annual "Get Out the Vote" event, an afternoon of free food and music to remind students to vote for the 66 candidates running for spots in the Undergraduate Assembly and all four class boards.

Students were also provided with a forum to talk to the candidates and find out more about their platforms.

"Traditionally the first day of voting - when we have 'Get Out the Vote' - is the day when the highest number of votes are cast," said College junior Dan Strigenz, who serves as the elections chairman of the NEC.

"This is the biggest 'Get Out The Vote' [in my 3 years on the NEC]," he added, saying that, this year, there was more food and drink because the body was able to get corporate sponsors for the event.

"I think this is a great event," said College junior Ed Berchick. "It's a great way to put a face to a name and get to know [the candidates] in a more personal way."

College freshman Julie McClain added that the event "helped [her] remember their names."

Although the number of candidates increased by four from last year, many of this year's races are uncontested.

Only one Nursing student is running for UA; there is competition for seats representing the other three undergraduate schools - the biggest battle will be for the 16 School of Arts and Sciences seats, for which 26 students are competing.

Nearly half the candidates for UA are not incumbents, with 15 out of the 38 running for the first time.

None of the Class of 2008 board positions is contested, and only two people running for the Class of 2009 boards will not get seats, leaving the Class of 2010 with the highest number of contested seats.

But the real competition lies in the UA elections, as proven by the strong presence and palpable energy of UA candidates on College Green. Throughout the day, there were far fewer Class Board representatives campaigning in the area.

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