JUST A THOUGHT COLUMN: Campaign corruption
By Nate Bloomquist
Corruption and politics. There are a countless number of people who believe these two concepts are one in the same.
And why should anyone think IVCC is any different? The recent student government election, which was held on April 6-7, didn’t prove otherwise.
There wasn’t any ‘mud-slinging’ or any dirt digging on the two candidates in the presidential election, which is common place on the national level. There weren’t any miscounted votes or illegal procedures in the voting totals, which amounted to 147-71 in favor of Putnam County High School graduate Angela Brown.
But that doesn’t mean the election wasn’t corrupt. The definition of a corrupt election is where the wrong person wins the voting tally. Such was the case three weeks ago.
While most candidates who run for office typically use some sort of catchy slogan, or pledge to the constituents, Brown used “Pretty-face politics” as her lure to the voter. Chances are, voters didn’t just vote for Brown’s appearance, they voted for the World Wrestling Federation’s Rock, and Adam Sandler.
It would be pretty safe to assume that Sandler doesn’t think Brown is “the ca ca coolest,” let alone even know who Brown is.
It’s also a pretty good assumption that the Rock wouldn’t put the smack down on anyone who didn’t vote for Brown.But it is a good assumption that clever posters created by Brown involving Sandler and the Rock were part of the reason she got elected.
It is wrong to use someone else’s name and likeness without their permission. But it is really easy to do so with the aide of a computer. That still doesn’t make it right.
All posters, and really anything that is posted anywhere on campus must be approved by administration. Sandy Beard, the Student Services Secretary is in charge of that.Beard said she hadn’t thought of the violation of the invasion of privacy of Sandler and the Rock.
If Beard had considered the posters unethical, it’s likely that no action would be taken, and the campaign propaganda would’ve still been posted on campus. Beard and others would probably assume that no action would be taken by Sandler or Rock because IVCC isn’t a big school. Such ignorance would only make the problem worse.
Cory Tomaason, the advisor of the SGA admitted to the wrong-doing.“When it comes to that, maybe we can learn something we’re doing wrong,” he said.
It would be wrong to judge a candidate as being the wrong choice for the office they were elected to before they take the office. But Brown certainly hasn’t gotten off to a good start to convince anyone otherwise.