Monday, March 31, 1997

Saur stunt brings USG campaign to East Halls

By DAVID EDELSON
Collegian Staff Writer

Standing on a table in the dining room of Findlay Commons, Hank Saur screamed he was there to bring student government back to the students.

USG presidential candidate Hank Saur jumps onto a table in Findlay Commons to speak about his presidential platform. Saur was asked to leave the commons yesterday after the stunt by manager of the commons, Melinda Williams, right. (Collegian Photo/Kevin Vannicolo - click for full size image)

After less than a minute of discussing his agenda, Saur was asked to stop his speech by Assistant Manager of Food Services Melinda Williams and told not to campaign within the dining room again.

"I don't think the dining room is the place for campaigning," Williams said.

Although he wasn't able to discuss most of what wanted to, Saur said he still felt the speech went well.

"I would rather campaign at the dining commons where everybody is, than at Willard," Saur said. "I went where the real people are."

Michael Landsberg, the only other presidential candidate in attendance, also thought Saur's speech was a good idea.

"Hank is the shit," Landsberg said. "I almost snarfed my milk."

But reaction from other students in attendance was mixed.

"Most of the time you don't see the candidates," Jessica Hurd (freshman-communications) said. "It's a positive way to campaign -- most people wouldn't have the guts to stand up on a table and talk."

Tony Relvas (sophomore-chemical engineering) also thought the stunt was a good way to reach students.

"In a big school like this you have to draw attention to yourself somehow," Relvas said.

But not everybody thought the event was a positive way to push an agenda. Carisa Sirak (sophomore-industrial engineering) said she saw the speech as a negative way to reach students.

"There are better ways of getting attention for your campaign," Sirak said. "A lot of people running for office focus too much on attention-getting and not enough on the issues."

Wesley Bowser could not be reached for comment.
Jason Covener said there are better stunts that could have been pulled. Including the other candidates in the stunt would have helped, he added.
Jaime Desmond said she thought it was the candidates' choices to campaign any way they choose and added she has seen many ways of campaigning.
Thane J. Fake said he thought it was an innovative way of campaigning and a good way to get in touch with the students.
Darin Loccarini said Saur's actions were good and that actions like that are what everyone is supposed to be doing in the campaign.
David Lubkemann said although he is "all for" everyone making their respective positions public, he is unsure whether yesterday was the best day to hold such an event, because it was a holiday weekend.
Blaine Rummel also said he thought it was a good method of campaigning, adding that he has conducted similar impromptu meetings, gathering people together to have them ask questions.

Collegian staff writers Bridgette Blair and Patricia K. Cole contributed to this report.