Bowdoin students have one more election to think about before they leave for the summer, but this one isn't for BSG and doesn't have national implications. Seniors Jaques Gauna and Truc Huynh will square off in a mock congressional election, a yearly event for Professor of Government Chris Potholm's seminar students.
On May 11 students will be able to vote for either Gauna or Huynh in Smith Union. The mock election has been a campus feature every spring since Potholm hatched the idea 15 years ago.
At the beginning of the semester, Potholm divided the students in his advanced seminar in International Relations, Conflict Simulation and Conflict Resolution, into two teams to debate, build coalitions, and practice for the mock election unit at the end of the semester.
"I would like to encourage Bowdoin students to think more about elections," Potholm said. "a lot of Bowdoin students like to talk about elections, but don't actually want to participate...I hope that by exposing them to this mock election students would be more likely to participate."
Potholm points out that a number of graduates who participated in Conflict Simulation and Conflict Resolution have ended up involved in politics. Among the graduates in recent years, one now works for Karl Rove, another travels with the advance team for President Bush, and a third is now the Chief of Staff for a member of Parliament in Canada.
"I am so excited about these two candidates," said Professor Potholm. "They are really off and running...I think this is going to be the closest and best election we've had in the last 15 years for the Bowdoin congress seat."
At this point, both campaigns are in the preliminary stages, fundraising and polling the student body on which issues matter most to them. Through polling, each candidate develops a platform to run on.
"In other years the platforms have been more Stairmasters, handicap access, and diversity," recalled Potholm.
"It's not part of the BSG," Huynh explained, "I think it's actually taken more seriously...The winning team gets to present their proposals to the administration and hopefully they will listen."
Among other things, Super Snack and the One Card system for laundry were results of the mock election.
While candidates are still in the process of polling the student body and do not have finalized platforms, they were able to provide preliminary lists they believed were going to be of the most importance.
Gauna listed increased access to the health center on the weekend, improved facilities for athletes?which includes the gym and locker rooms?utilization of renewable energy on campus, and the elimination of Styrofoam from the pub and express meals.
"We've been working with infirmary staff on the issue of the health center," Gauna said. "Students should be aware that there's someone there to help them on the weekends if they need it."
Huynh listed issues such as improving safety on campus. "We've been talking with [Director of Security] Bruce Boucher about the installation of security cameras and warning signs in parking lots around campus."
Huynh also listed improving the parking situation on campus, enhancing Super Snack, and starting a program in which students can use Polar Points at local businesses such as Domino's and Scarlett Begonia's. He also encouraged a more productive dialogue between faculty and students, increased hours for shuttles, and health center availability of the weekends.
In the next couple of weeks the candidates say they plan to attempt to reach as many people as possible. Posters are already starting to pop up around campus.
"We really want to get everyone on campus involved," Gauna said.
Both candidates expressed concern that the campaigns had recently taken negative turns.
"The other team has already become negative. We want to stay positive," Gauna said. "We are transcending political affiliations; this election is about the issues."
Huynh acknowledged that some of his supporters tore down opposition posters and expressed regret.
"I would want to remind supporters to have a respectful campaign and a positive campaign," he urged.