2008 Woodie Awards
Write-in candidates take almost 14 percent of vote
Heather Steeves
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
This year's student body presidential elections consisted of two candidates, but write-in candidates won about 13.59 percent of the student vote. Last year, write-in votes consisted of only 2 percent of total votes cast.
One-hundred-and-one votes went to write-in candidates. This includes 28 in which the voter did not submit a name. According to the FEPC Chair Jonathan Charette, "Since no person contacted the FEPC chair prior to the deadline, according to the executive timeline, no votes will be counted toward write-in candidates."
The deadline for filing with the FEPC is one week before the election.
"There are people who submit these ridiculous write-ins just to spite. The problem really is just apathy. A lot of students don't care about politics," said William Pomerleau, the president of the General Student Body. "I don't really see it as a slight against me or [Vice President Steve Moran] or Student Government, honestly, I just feel that students just don't care …There are always people that have to nay-say and criticize, even if it's a lack of information. But they have a right to do it. They have a right to their opinion. I'd sit down with any of them."
Moran, who ran unopposed, agreed. "I wish instead of throwing away that vote they might convince a friend of theirs to run, even if it is a week before the deadline, submitting their name as a viable write-in candidate."
The amount of write-in votes received may spur some changes.
"It's pretty remarkable. I also think those students are really sending a message," said Vice President of Student Entertainment Derek Mitchell. "I've actually submitted a resolution to change the FEPC guidelines to allow write-in candidates to declare up to 5 p.m. the day of the election."
The resolution also proposes that there be a committee to run a mandatory debate between the candidates. The Debate Committee would be made of campus media groups. "I think that makes it, one, much more transparent, much more clearly ethical, and secondly, I think that has the potential to expose it a lot more," Mitchell said. This resolution was sent to committee and will be voted on by the senate next Tuesday.
List of write-in candidates:
Joseph Audette - 8
Justin Labonte - 6
McLovin' - 6
Stephen Colbert - 3
The Mullet - 3
Mickey Mouse - 3
Boob Sweat - 2
Nick Hubbard
Joe Camel
Your mother
Sam G. Cohen
CANCEL SCHOOL ON A SNOW DAY!!!!
Nicholas Hubbard
Billiam the Snowman
Wenis
None of the Above
Dan Arsenault
Neither of them. Seriously. Come on now.
Radioactive Man
Matthew Czigler
Ron Paul
Michelle Morneault
Gabrielle Berube
Conlogue
Gimbala Sankere
Phil Diagle
Mike Maberry
Jeff Black
Paws the cat
Benjamin Bishop
Ashleigh Briggs
Pete Janarelli
Joshua Legasse
Katrina Costa
Mudkip
Scott Macdonald
Derek Mitchell
Benjamin Benwell
Svenson McGee
Jason Gardner
Britney Fox
Tim Rickter
Ricky Bobby
Alexander Leonard
Eryk Salvaggio
Paul Curtis
Chelsea Tanguay
Dan Freebird
Trogdor the Burninator
28 write in ballots were submitted blank.
One-hundred-and-one votes went to write-in candidates. This includes 28 in which the voter did not submit a name. According to the FEPC Chair Jonathan Charette, "Since no person contacted the FEPC chair prior to the deadline, according to the executive timeline, no votes will be counted toward write-in candidates."
The deadline for filing with the FEPC is one week before the election.
"There are people who submit these ridiculous write-ins just to spite. The problem really is just apathy. A lot of students don't care about politics," said William Pomerleau, the president of the General Student Body. "I don't really see it as a slight against me or [Vice President Steve Moran] or Student Government, honestly, I just feel that students just don't care …There are always people that have to nay-say and criticize, even if it's a lack of information. But they have a right to do it. They have a right to their opinion. I'd sit down with any of them."
Moran, who ran unopposed, agreed. "I wish instead of throwing away that vote they might convince a friend of theirs to run, even if it is a week before the deadline, submitting their name as a viable write-in candidate."
The amount of write-in votes received may spur some changes.
"It's pretty remarkable. I also think those students are really sending a message," said Vice President of Student Entertainment Derek Mitchell. "I've actually submitted a resolution to change the FEPC guidelines to allow write-in candidates to declare up to 5 p.m. the day of the election."
The resolution also proposes that there be a committee to run a mandatory debate between the candidates. The Debate Committee would be made of campus media groups. "I think that makes it, one, much more transparent, much more clearly ethical, and secondly, I think that has the potential to expose it a lot more," Mitchell said. This resolution was sent to committee and will be voted on by the senate next Tuesday.
List of write-in candidates:
Joseph Audette - 8
Justin Labonte - 6
McLovin' - 6
Stephen Colbert - 3
The Mullet - 3
Mickey Mouse - 3
Boob Sweat - 2
Nick Hubbard
Joe Camel
Your mother
Sam G. Cohen
CANCEL SCHOOL ON A SNOW DAY!!!!
Nicholas Hubbard
Billiam the Snowman
Wenis
None of the Above
Dan Arsenault
Neither of them. Seriously. Come on now.
Radioactive Man
Matthew Czigler
Ron Paul
Michelle Morneault
Gabrielle Berube
Conlogue
Gimbala Sankere
Phil Diagle
Mike Maberry
Jeff Black
Paws the cat
Benjamin Bishop
Ashleigh Briggs
Pete Janarelli
Joshua Legasse
Katrina Costa
Mudkip
Scott Macdonald
Derek Mitchell
Benjamin Benwell
Svenson McGee
Jason Gardner
Britney Fox
Tim Rickter
Ricky Bobby
Alexander Leonard
Eryk Salvaggio
Paul Curtis
Chelsea Tanguay
Dan Freebird
Trogdor the Burninator
28 write in ballots were submitted blank.
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