The Bison community had the opportunity to engage, meet and greet campaigners at the candidate fair, the introduction to a new election season.
The fair featured candidates for the Royal Court, Senate and Student Council. Held in the Ballroom of Amour J. Blackburn University Center Monday, Sept. 15, it was the first time the candidates had the chance to showcase themselves all together under one accord.
Howard University’s Election Committee put the event together.
Allison Dwyer, a junior political science major and environmental studies minor from Montego Bay, Jamaica, called the event a step toward fairness.
“I think it’s a great initiative by the commission to give everyone a level playing field,” she said.
For many freshmen candidates, this fall campaign season was a first chance to make themselves heard as changemakers for their class.
Aysha Murphy, a freshman psychology major from Austin, Texas described her experience campaigning this fall as “empowering.” Running on the Clue Council slate, Murphy is seeking the role of College of Arts and Sciences Freshman Council secretary. She highlighted how she had an idea of what she wanted to do on campus and how this experience has allowed her to build her confidence.
Nailah Harrington, a freshman human performance major from Brooklyn, is running for vice president of the College of Arts and Sciences Freshman Council on the Clue Council slate. She described the campaign as “an amazing experience, win or lose.”
“ It was stressful because we didn’t know each other beforehand,” Harrington mentioned when speaking about the slate, “but we have learned how to communicate.”
Ryann May, a freshman political science major from Atlanta running for Miss Freshman, said the best part of her campaign has been connecting with new people while juggling classes and pageant prep.
After last spring’s dismissal over campaign violations, the Howard University Election Commission is rebuilding under Elections Commissioner Willie White III.
Associate Commissioner Jae’Dyn Smith, a junior public relations major from Dallas, said seeing the process run smoothly has been “very affirming.”
From the candidate fair to speakouts and crossfires, the commission has worked to make elections more open and engaging. Still, Smith stressed, it all comes down to turnout:
“None of the work that we’re doing matters if you all don’t actually vote on voting day.”
The fall special elections are Thursday, Sept. 25, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
