With elections right around the corner, many are wondering why the traditional Student Association candidates’ campaign signs are no longer standing in front of the Colvard Student Union.The signs have been temporarily removed for more than five days and will resume their standing Monday, according to Billy Dahlgren, assistant director for the Union and one of the four advisers for elections.
The signs were not maintained properly, he said.
When asked who made the decision to suspend the signs until Monday, Dahlgren gave no comment, but upcoming weather played a part in the decision.
“At one point in time all the signs had fallen down. No sign was weatherproof or windproof, and we asked that someone be sitting in front of the Union picking them up not 10 minutes later, not an hour later, but immediately,” he said.
SA elections commissioner Phillip Bass said certain stipulations were given to candidates on how to maintain their signs, which included temporarily laying them down in severe weather.
SA officials had to call the candidates on numerous occasions to pick the signs up when they were blown into the sidewalk or bushes, and they were not always picked up in a timely manner, he said.
“Candidates were told that signs need to be up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if the sun was out and shining and if they fell, to get them up as soon as possible,” Bass said.
SA President Jeremy Johnson said there is no excuse for candidates not to adhere to the rules and regulations of current SA policies.
“Every candidate was made aware of all of the policies regarding the signs and weather so they knew what they needed to do if there was bad weather and what would happen if they didn’t abide by the rules,” he said.
“In addition, the elections commissioner informed every candidate each time something happened and they needed to move a sign or put it up.”
Johnson said the policy was enacted not only to ensure the campus is not harmed, but also so that the candidates’ efforts were not wasted.
“A gust of wind can blow by and knock a sign over and put a hole in it,” Johnson said.
Dahlgren said the SA asked to put the signs in front of the Union and several members of the administration permitted them to, but only in designated areas.
“With the renewed emphasis on campus appearance, we didn’t want to do anything that could potentially harm the grass, shrubs or sprinkler systems,” he said. “We weren’t going to refuse them a right to put the signs out, but we wanted to make sure they were in the right spot and maintained at the right level.”
Will Moon, candidate for SA treasurer, said for the past few years signs have been displayed on the Drill Field where candidates were allowed to stake signs in the grass, making a stable base.
“It was hard not being able to put them on grass,” he said. “The walkway is uneven because of the stone which makes an uneasy base, which plays a big part in them falling down.”
Moon suggested using sandbags to stabilize the signs, but the suggestion was disregarded because of aesthetics.
Presidential candidate Braxton Coombs suggested that next year, as an alternative to the signs location now, they be displayed inside the front of the Union where banners now hang.
“It would be a more efficient way. The signs run around $100, and the banners cost around $40. It would be better cost-wise,” he said. “The whole question would be [whether it would] be as effective as it would be outside the Union. For next year and the Homecoming elections it may be a possibility and a better way to do things.”
An anonymous letter written to MSU President Robert “Doc” Foglesong was forwarded to the administration, SA President Jeremy Johnson and The Reflector.
The letter, which was signed by “Unheard Students,” complained that the heavy emphasis on aesthetics is diminishing campus tradition when it comes to elections and that candidates have been treated unfairly.
Signs are currently in possession of each individual candidate until Monday.