Two sorority presidents said yesterday Student Assembly presidential candidate Phil Ferrera '96 approached them at the end of Winter term to ask for their endorsement in the upcoming campaign, which could violate election guidelines.
Election guidelines stipulate that "Campaigning shall be defined but not limited to ... seeking an endorsement from a student or group of students; and similar activities ... Students can organize their campaigns in advance, but actual campaigning may begin no earlier than seven days prior to the election date."
Student elections are on April 11, which means candidates can not begin campaigning until April 4. Ferrera said he approached the six sorority presidents at the end of last term to explain his platform.
Abbey Henderson '96, president of Delta Gamma sorority, said, "[Ferrera] asked for endorsements. He talked to other sorority presidents and wanted to say so-and-so endorsed him for the presidency."
"I didn't want to speak for Delta Gamma," she said. "I'm not endorsing anyone."
Beth Shugert '96, Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority president last term, said, "He asked me to endorse him. My name would go on fliers and stuff."
Ferrera maintains he did not campaign early and did not ask to speak to organizations.
"I'm not early campaigning," Ferrera said last night. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm not going to get tripped up on diction."
But Ferrera did say, "Was it illegal in terms of diction? Maybe."
Ferrera said the election policies are ambiguous and that he merely has been trying to prepare his campaign.
Director of Student Activities Tim Moore said yesterday no one has filed a complaint against Ferrera. Moore chairs the Election Advisory Committee, a group of students and administrators who oversee student elections.
Moore said he would not discuss any violation of election policy until an individual formally lodged a complaint. Only then would Moore begin to investigate the validity of any allegations or consider possible penalties.
Brandon del Pozo '96 said he would be "very angry" if either of his competitors for the presidency, Ferrera or Jim Rich '96, campaigned early. "That goes against the qualities you look for in a student leader," he said.
"If another candidate does something that seriously handicaps his competitors and puts the election in a bad light, than I would be very inclined to file a complaint," del Pozo added.
Del Pozo said he does not want a deceitful presidential race because that could diminish its significance to the student body.
Rich declined to comment.
Ferrera said he was articulating his platform while speaking with the sorority leaders, who he said he considers his friends. He said he told the leaders how he supported the establishment of a women's issues residence hall and how he wanted to avoid Greek issues during the race.
"I met with them as individuals, not as organizations," he said.
Moore has posted the election guidelines and candidates on BlitzMail bulletins under, "Elections -- Student."
Two years ago, presidential candidate Nicole Artzer '94 and Stewart Shirasu '94 were sanctioned by the Election Advisory Committee for campaigning early.
Artzer and Shirasu met with the executive committee of the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council, the governing body of the College's Greek organizations, to seek an endorsement. Both candidates were prohibited from starting their campaigns until 24 hours after electioneering officially began for other candidates.
Ironically, Shirasu went on to win the election. Shirasu resigned soon after his victory and Artzer went on to win a special election.
