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opinion:
letters
Election rancor
I have been involved
with student government for about two-and-a-half years, and
I have really enjoyed my experience and it truly has made an
impact on my life. I have been thinking lately about last week's
Associated Students' Awards and Installation Ceremony and I
still cannot get over this year's election.
I read the other
student's comment about the dirty campaigning that took place
by some candidates' campaign workers, and I whole-heartedly
agree with her sentiments. I thought it was very sad and disrespectful
that some candidates had campaign workers who publicly badmouthed
opponents during the elections.
I know that there
is the possibility that the candidates may not have known
when it occurred, but to not do anything about this situation
says a lot about their character.
A respectful candidate
would have put an immediate end to these inappropriate words
and apologized to the opponent on behalf of the campaign workers.
I know that all
candidates get frustrated, and it is perfectly natural to
share this frustration in the privacy of their own home with
those helping them with the campaign, but that is where it
must stay. This election was very competitive, as were the
past few, but this one by far has been the nastiest that I
have seen in the four years I have been on campus.
I was also personally
offended about the "free ride" comment because I
myself am a President's Scholar. We do receive a financial
scholarship, but this is in no way a free ride.
To become a President's
Scholar, you must be a California valedictorian or a National
Merit Finalist.
I know that voter
turnout is already low, and I hope that this ugly campaign
does not discourage anyone from voting next year. Good luck
to all the other newly-elected candidates.
--
Michael Braga, senior
business administration major
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