With Associated Student Government runoffs today, candidates for executive and academic vice presidents spent Wednesday getting the word out about the runoffs and trying to gain as many votes as possible.
Srikanth Reddy and Art Janik will face each other in the executive vice presidential runoff while Ebo Dawson-Andoh and Debkumar Sarkar will go head-to-head in the academic vice presidential race.
Reddy said he is trying to hold onto his lead by talking to students at Tech Express and Norris University Center.
“Especially those who are really apathetic and don’t know who the best person is,” said Reddy, a McCormick sophomore. “I’ve been trying to explain to them the importance of this position and why I’m the best person for the job.”
Reddy is a member of the Student Activities Finance Board. He said he is concerned that student group members might vote against him because of SAFB’s funding recommendations, released at Wednesday night’s Senate meeting.
“I don’t think it’s too likely just because I don’t know how great the perception is, but at the same time I’m trying to cover my bases,” Reddy said. “If I do get elected, I will be able to advise those student groups and tell them the arguments they need to be making next week and try to sway the Senate in their favor.”
Janik said he has tried to talk to all students, particularly to student group leaders. He said he wants to show them that his experience with student groups makes him the best candidate.
“There are things that are just as important as funding, but are still necessary to put on a successful event,” said Janik, a Medill junior. “Who better to lead student groups than a student group leader?”
Although Janik will be in Finland for the rest of Spring Quarter, he said he could still build his platform successfully. His campaign manager, Weinberg sophomore Joel Richlin, would serve as acting chairman and the executive committee would do much of the lobbying for student groups. Janik also will spend this summer in Evanston and would communicate with administrators at this time.
“My ideas will still be there, they’ll just be communicated differently,” Janik said. “I want the executive committee to lobby. I don’t just want the executive vice president to lobby.”
Dawson-Andoh said he planned to “campaign, campaign, campaign” Wednesday by talking to people at Norris and going to some residence halls, particularly those on North Campus, where he did not receive as many votes.
“I’m down south and I only really had time to campaign down there,” said Dawson-Andoh, a Weinberg sophomore. “Now I have to go into overtime and concentrate myself everywhere.”
While Dawson-Andoh concentrates on holding his lead, Sarkar is trying to make up a 15 percent deficit. Sarkar, who edged out McCormick freshman Michael Fong for the runoff by just 10 votes, said he spent Wednesday talking to people and trying to convince students who abstained Tuesday to vote the second time around.
“I just think the more people that hear about my platform and know what issues I’m fighting for, the better my chances are,” said Sarkar, a McCormick sophomore. “Especially with so many votes unaccounted for and write-ins.”
