Freshman candidates for the Undergraduate Assembly and class boards pulled out all the stops last night, rallying support before voting officially began at 12:01 a.m. this morning.
The Midnight Breakfast, sponsored by the Nominations and Elections Committee, was a chance for freshmen to meet candidates face-to-face and for student government hopefuls to personally reach out to their would-be constituents, all while noshing on free pastries and bagels.
College and Wharton junior and NEC Vice Chairman for Elections Eli Hoffman noted the dual significance of the event.
"It's a really great opportunity for [candidates] to meet new freshmen and get their messages out," he said, adding, "We just want to get people interested in the election, so that when they get home tonight or tomorrow they come out and vote."
Although several freshmen came to support friends or hallmates who were running -- either acting as moral support or by handing out flyers at the entrance -- many freshmen there were hoping to meet all the candidates for the first time.
College freshman Monika Luabeya planned to seize this opportunity for both socializing and getting informed.
"I think it's a cool way to meet the people who are running. ... You can be social, and you don't have to be too serious," she said.
"I want to know what they're about, because I'm not going to cast my vote without knowing anything," Luabeya added.
College freshman and class board presidential candidate Jerome Wright noted the importance of freshmen educating themselves on the election, as well as voter mobilization.
"The inclination is that it's going to be a good, informed election," Wright said.
He added, "The more people that come out, the better. I just hope everyone gets out to vote."
The event enjoyed an impressive turnout -- practically packing Bodek Lounge at Houston Hall with prospective voters -- perhaps a result of the NEC's extensive publicity efforts.
NEC member and College junior Jackie Schottenstein discussed the planning that went into the event.
"Definitely publicity was our main stress, because no matter how good the event is ... if people don't know about it, then there was no event," she said.
However, the NEC's goals for the events were not those held by all freshman attendees.
"I basically came here for the food," College freshman Emma Hall said.
Voting ends this Sunday, Oct. 3.
