by KELLI FONTENOT
Published March 25, 2009 in The Current Sauce
With Student Activities Board elections around the corner, some prospective representatives-at-large may face a conundrum concerning electronic promotion on the social networking Web site Facebook.
Marquis Montgomery, a senior Computer Information Systems major, is one of 30 NSU students running for a SAB rep-at-large position.
"I started an event on Facebook just to campaign and kind of get my name out there," he said. "That way, if somebody wanted to find out about my platform, they could just send me a message."
Last week, candidates applied for positions and received a set of campaign guidelines. One rule states that candidates who relied strictly on fliers and face-to-face campaigning must take down all signs that are within 50 feet of the polls on the day before the election. Failure to do so may result in disqualification and removal from the race.
But because there is currently no rule concerning the use of social media in the campaign, some students may encounter confusion when election day comes. Montgomery said he does not think the SAB executive board will require students to delete their Facebook events or groups on the day before the election.
"I don't think it applies to Facebook; I think it has to do more with the campaigning that's done on campus," Montgomery said.
Many students, though, access Facebook in on-campus computer labs. Some students use their cellular phones to check Facebook while in the Student Union. If the SAB decides to hold candidates responsible for electronic media's impact on voters on the day before the election, many of them may be disqualified from the race.
Sophomore general studies major Zachary Anderson has relied on word-of-mouth so far, but he said he will probably make a Facebook group soon.
"I think it's really smart," he said. "A lot of people, when we give them a flier, they just toss it. But most college students are on Facebook more than they are on their Blackboard."
Freshman hospitality, management and tourism major Tiffany Hudson said her Facebook event, "Elect Tiffany as SAB Rep-At-Large," has spread further than she anticipated. Hudson invited many of her friends and encouraged them to invite their friends to the group as well.
"Half the people in the group, I don't even know who they are," Hudson said.
With more than 175 million people visiting the site on a regular basis, it comes as no surprise. The average user has 120 friends on the site, according to Facebook.com.
Courtney Espenan, a sophomore liberal arts major running for a rep-at-large position, also created a Facebook group and agrees that it is a worthwhile promotion tool.
"It's a good way to go," Espenan said. "With all the problems with money right now, this is free."
Espenan, who currently serves as the executive social director of Phi Mu sorority, is accustomed to planning events on a budget and promoting them using different media.
Facebook is a way for her to keep costs low and reach as many students as possible.
"You can invite your friends, and they can invite their friends, and even if they don't join, they've heard about it," Espenan said.
Espenan and other candidates encouraged students to vote April 1.
Junior social work major Monique Chachere, who is also running for rep-at-large, pointed out that each vote makes a difference.
"Even if only five people go out and vote, there are about 30 people running for 14 available positions," Chachere said.
