| OCR Text |
Show Editorial Ethical? In the election rules given to all ASUU candidates the first rule under Campaigning begins: "Campaign ethics of the highest type should be observed. The Student Regulations Regula-tions Committee shall have the power to fine andor declare ineligible for office any candidate who, after due process, is found guilty of improper or unethical campaigning." The elections committee has set limits on the amount of money each candidate may spend. A candidate running for an ASUU board may spend $40 for his entire campaign, primary and final, and a presidential aspirant may spend $60. This includes materials, advertisements, parties and all other expenses. In the past the Student Regulations Committee has given only token fines to candidates who admit having spent more than $100. A student who can afford to spend $100, $200 or $300 can certainly afford to forfeit the $18 filing fee so long as he gets elected. No matter what the rules say the less affluent student is still the one who will ultimately suffer. Candidates in the past elections have also been able to skirt around rules by claiming different items have been donated to their campaign and are therefore exempt from the money limit. This concept is especially unacceptable when a candidates' relative or fraternity brother or church brother just happens to own an advertising agency or a grocery store or a bank. It would be possible to run a campaign cam-paign that was completely exempt from the rules. If the Elections Committee finds it necessary to place restrictions on campaigns, they should at least make these restrictions meaningful. If candidates cannot be creative enough to remain within their $40-$60 limit, then the number num-ber and size of posters and all publicity should be approved before placement. Rules are only rules unless the candidates as well as the Elections and Student Regulations Committees believe that "campaign ethics of the highest type should be observed." |
