It's a perpetual dilemma in nearly all elections -- how can candidates encourage voters to make their choices based on issues, not personality?
While candidates participating in today's Student Assembly races have pledged to run their campaigns on substance, they acknowledge that name recognition and popularity play a very prominent role in voters' preferences.
The five candidates running for student body president cited their differences in ideas as a way for voters to identify who will best serve their needs. But they emphasized that the current election process, which affords few opportunities for direct candidate-voter communication, precludes many students from learning about the issues.
"I don't think people are voting on issues," presidential candidate Tara Maller '03 said. "Even on speech night, the majority of those who come are people who know the candidates already."
Although the importance of personality and name recognition has been apparent throughout this year's election, candidates agreed that they put substance at the forefront of their campaigns.
Indeed, an analysis of this and past year's elections show that distinctive issues dominate the campus debate each election cycle.
For the second year, candidates have focused their platforms on change within the Assembly to improve accessibility and discussion among its members and the rest of the Dartmouth campus. Presidential candidate Eric Bussey '01 said he desires a total restructuring of the current system to allow every student to participate in the Assembly. Opponents Maller and Michael Perry '03 said that they are more in favor of exacting change from within to achieve goals such as improving Alumni Gym and strengthening faculty-student relations.
In recent history, Assembly elections have revolved around issues that have caused greater reaction throughout the student body. The 1999 election saw Greek houses rallying around Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member Dean Krishna '01 to ensure that the Greek system would have a say in the College's future. Although never officially endorsed by Greek leaders, house members were urged to support Krishna in his run for the presidency.
Presidential candidate Karim Mohsen '03 stressed the need for similar levels of active participation among the general student body so that the elections are less about personal style.
"I honestly think that it becomes whatever the candidates make of it," Mohsen said. "I think that if the student body voiced their concerns more vehemently, it can become less of, 'I've been in Student Assembly the longest, vote for me.'"
While the issues are relevant to the Assembly campaigns, candidates say less substantive factors often influence election outcomes.
According to presidential candidate Maller, the pre-election debate -- which was held last night -- does not provide the student body with an adequate opportunity to learn about the candidates' positions. As a result, other factors, including friendships and prior Assembly experience, are more likely to affect voting patterns.
Maller argued that Assembly-sponsored incentives are needed to generate interest and overcome what she described as structural barriers to communicating her ideas.
"I think you need something big -- if that involves food or entertainment, so be it -- to make it something people want to attend" debates and discussions about the issues, she said.
Most candidates agreed that the election process benefits current Assembly members -- whose names become associated with student government in voters' minds long before they announce their intentions to run -- in attracting voters.
But those inside the Assembly are careful to say that prior experience in the body is not all-important. Despite perceived disadvantages to Assembly newcomers, current Assembly president Molly Stutzman '02 emphasized that these candidates still have ample opportunities to spread their message.
"Certainly, name recognition does help," Stutzman said. "But you might also have somebody who has terrific posters and who gets their name out there. Sometimes I think that becomes very powerful."
Although she acknowledged that candidates' personalities and popularity levels affect election outcomes in the same way as campaign issues, Stutzman said she does not know whether one takes precedence among voters.
"People vote for different reasons," she said.
Perry was reluctant to say that candidates have been reaching out to their constituents to make campaign issues more of a focus.
"In years past, platforms have mattered," Perry said. "This year it's been more of labeling -- experience versus reform."
Perry also cited the busy schedules of Dartmouth students as a hindrance to the electoral process.
"To a large part, students at Dartmouth are so busy with their own thing that it's hard to get into the campaign until a few days beforehand," he said.
As a result of what Perry views as students' inability to devote time to election issues, name recognition and candidates' class years impact the voting process to an unnecessary extent, he said.
Unlike his fellow candidates, Perry said that prior experience with the Assembly can serve as a detriment, rather than a benefit, to candidates who must battle the Assembly's often less-than-favorable image among the general student population.
As a result, candidates often run their campaigns against the current structure of the Assembly and neglect to discuss more pressing issues, Perry said.
"Every year, the debate is about, 'Can SA do better?'" he said. "I think people know in general that change is a slow process and that there's more to an organization than its constitution."
Perry suggested mass administration-funded Hinman Box mailings of candidates' platforms, a more accessible Assembly website and a stronger focus on the pre-election debate as ways to increase student participation in the electoral process and center its focus around substantive issues.
"I think it depends on the candidate and how much that candidate is willing to reach out," Perry added. "Right now, if I want to read a candidate's platform, I have to work for that."
