They could have been studying for their first round of Penn midterms this week. They could have been reading page after page for homework. Or they could have been partying with friends.
But instead the Class of 2005 showed up by the hundreds Tuesday night for the second annual Get Out the Vote Midnight Breakfast, proving that the 70 candidates are not the only freshmen enthusiastic about Penn political life.
The event, sponsored by the Nominations and Elections Committee, gives freshmen the opportunity to interact more casually with the candidates for the Undergraduate Assembly and Class Boards before the polls open at midnight. Freshmen socialized with friends over bagels and snack foods as Penn a cappella groups performed.
"Before all you could do was look at the posters and now you can meet the people who are putting up those posters," College freshman Jare Corbin said after he finished a bite of bagel and cream cheese. "You can find out what they're going to do and what they have the power to do."
At the event's peak, the Houston Hall Class of '49 auditorium swelled with approximately 300 freshmen, an unusually high turnout that thrilled organizers.
"These freshmen are so much more enthusiastic than last year's class," said College junior Rebecca Silberman, who coordinated the event both last year and this year. "They are acting on their own initiative."
Silberman was referring to the majority of freshmen candidates who brought campaign materials with them last night, although they were not asked to do so.
Freshmen plastered the walls with posters and flyers, taped campaign ads on their backs and chests and interrupted private conversations to distribute tootsie roll pops and hand-outs in an effort to secure votes.
"This is the first time we've gotten to interact with the people voting," said College freshman Stephanie Cohen, who is running for class vice president. "There should be more opportunities like this one."
And the voters agreed.
Many did not realize how many of their fellow freshmen had decided to run.
"I didn't know there were so many candidates," said Engineering freshman Andrew Straus. "It's nice to have them all in one place where they can introduce themselves."
Rachel Grossman, a Wharton freshman, found a spot to stand with two of her friends, away from the campaign chaos that was taking place in the room's center and right next to the bowls of cookies and pretzels at tables in the back.
"I came for the food," she said, somewhat embarrassed, with a cookie in hand.
Grossman represented the majority of freshmen who turned out for last night's Midnight Breakfast. For most, the bagels and cream cheese were a much bigger draw than the candidates.
But that didn't bother NEC Chairwoman and College senior Anne Hankey, who had to leave the event twice to replenish the food.
"We know they come for the food, but we're hoping they take an awareness away that elections are going on, that it's important to vote and to know the people you're voting for," Hankey said.
Last night was not only a chance for voters to see all the candidates in one room, it was also one of the few times the candidates got a good look at their opponents. This year the candidate pool has nearly doubled from last year's 36 candidates. That makes for some serious competition.
"I've tried to portray myself as a more serious candidate," said Seth Weissman, a Wharton freshman and one of 13 men running for class president. "I've concentrated on stating specific ideas."
Weissman spent 12 hours compiling a freshmen listserv from the Penn online directory and the face book as candidates were not allowed to use the class listserv to campaign. Last night, Weissman set himself apart from the crowd by donning a shirt and tie, more business-like attire than most candidates roaming the room in T-shirts and jeans.
"When you're walking around the room, people can tell right away that you're a candidate," he said with confidence in his decision.
Some freshmen, however, said the event was too political and they would need to have more individual contact with the candidates before deciding the best person for the position.
"No one gets on the personal level," Engineering freshman Dan Afergan said. "They just hand you flyers and tell you to vote for them."
After R & B artist Lisa Loi closed the evening at midnight with a song from her newly-released album, Silberman took the microphone to tell freshmen to go home and vote on PennInTouch. Freshmen will be able to vote until Oct. 9 and the election results will be announced Oct. 10.
