Over 100 freshmen filled Logan Hall yesterday looking to meet their student government candidates -- and to get free food.
The Nominations and Elections Committee held its annual Get-Out-the-Vote Midnight Breakfast to give freshmen the opportunity to meet the candidates before voting started at midnight last night.
Candidates introduced themselves by handing out flyers, wearing silly hats and pasting name tags to their foreheads.
Two candidates running for Undergraduate Assembly spots, Engineering freshman Bruce Trammell and College freshman Pierre Gooding, set up a table with their agenda, which included a freshman formal and a field day.
Yesterday's breakfast was the last opportunity for candidates to rally support -- campaigning for the eight open spots on the UA and the nine spots on the freshman class board.
"We encourage the freshmen to go home at midnight and vote on their computers," explained Get-Out-the-Vote Coordinator K.C. Boback, a Wharton junior. "Tell them to go on Penn InTouch and vote."
The NEC's Midnight Breakfast is an informal way for members of the freshmen class to meet the freshmen candidates for UA and class boards, said NEC Chairwoman Rebecca Silberman.
"We used to have speeches, but freshmen don't really know enough about the issues yet," Silberman, a College senior, explained. "There's music. There's performing arts groups. There's food... It is a chance to see who would be a good leader."
"I came to see the candidates," Wharton freshman Monica Yan said. "I'm here with my roommate, since candidates have come to our room, but it's all a blur. We came here to see."
The early morning event featured performances by Penn Six, Chord on Blues, Penn Singers, the Glee Club and guitar soloist Arie Dosoretz.
Many freshmen came out to support their friends and enjoy some free bagels.
"I'm supporting a bunch of friends," College freshman Justin Murakami said. "Half of Ware [College House] seems to be running. I'm from Ware. House pride! And free food."
"One of my hallmates is running for president, and she told us about this," College freshman Amar Gala said. "I came to check out what people have to say, why we should vote for them... and there is free food."
"My roommate is running for president," added College freshman Maya Ward-Karet. "She did student government in high school."
Freshmen can vote online until Oct. 8. On Oct. 9, the NEC will hold its Fair Practice Codes hearing, where it will evaluate violations of campaign rules and will announce the winners of the elections.
