Last month’s Homecoming elections at the University of Pittsburgh had 1900 students, 400 more than last year, who came out to voice their support for the candidate of their choice.  A couple of candidates running had Student Government Board (SGB) experience as either SGB election chair or board members. 

 Jeff Alex, president of SGB was pleased to see the number of candidates running including those with SGB experience.  “I think it was great we had a few members represented in the selection pool.  If anything they had the upper hand because of practice in campaigning,” said Alex.

Nicole King, the SGB Elections chair for last year’s SGB elections was on the front lines this time when it came to running for Homecoming Queen.  Before, she would monitor the polling booths to make sure there were no infractions in the elections process. This time she was out there campaigning for herself.

“It’s better being in charge than out here handing out candy.  It’s a lot harder standing out here.  It’s fun but different.  I think there’s a lot more effort for Homecoming than SGB because [students] get most of their friends to do it,” said King.

Last year’s board member Rebecca Normandy, a member of Tri-Delta felt weird running for Homecoming Queen after having served in SGB when she won her SGB elections based on issues.

“It is weird because when you run for SGB, you run on things you want to change and do.  For this, you don’t have issues to run on. It makes SGB look a lot more important,” said Normandy.

Rather than having issues to get votes, Normandy and her sisters decided to pass out candy to get votes.

Current board member John Algie, a Homecoming King candidate and a member of Delta Tau Delta, agreed with Normandy regarding issues.

“This is a lot harder because [there is] not much to say.  I cannot speak on issues,” said Algie.  He further indicated he felt this homecoming election is like an “SGB election from hell” and that there are so many more candidates that it is hard to figure out who will come out on top.

Another current board member Carrie Howard saw Homecoming elections have a similar and different side to SGB elections.  “It’s the same thing. It’s the same process such as putting up with the campaign, putting up posters and fliers on election day.  It is a little different in handing out fliers.  You go through thousands for SGB while hundreds for homecoming” said Howard.

Howard felt more tired campaigning for Homecoming Queen than campaigning for SGB.  “It’s hard work standing all day. It’s funny because SGB elections are longer, but I am more tired running for Homecoming”, said Howard.

Current board member Lonnie Fish decided to vote for his friend Alex Chiaro, a member of Phi Kappa Theta for Homecoming King.  “I voted for Alex even though board members Carrie Howard and John Algie were running,” said Fish.

Chiaro ran because his fraternity brothers wanted him to run.

“I think all in all everybody did a fair job.  I thought it was a clean campaign”, said Chiaro.

One former board member, David Lander who was last year’s co-chair of homecoming did not see anything wrong with students of SGB running, but would have a problem should SGB be used to gain votes for a homecoming king or queen candidate.  “I think in events like this, SGB should remain neutral. I don’t feel SGB is a place to endorse candidates.  We should not ask SGB to endorse us because it is more of a popularity contest.  They should not use SGB to further their chances of winning”, said Lander. Algie also sees Homecoming election as popularity contest.  “It’s about: do you like the way I look or not or are you friends with those that are my friends.  It’s a popularity contest, but fun”, said Algie.

After the elections were over and counted, only Normandy made the final court of five from which one person was chosen to be Homecoming Queen.  The men’s court had six members due a tie.  Algie did not make the court.  The Queen’s court consisted of Lisa Firmani, Annette Clemens, Rebecca Normandy, Emily Kietack, and Nkemjika Ofodile.  The King’s court consisted of Stan Garb, Ian Buggs, Justin Ozolowski, Penny Samoa, Bob Chasthak, and Ryan Zeli.  The winners of the Homecoming Queen  & King were Nkemjika Ofodile and Penny Samoa.

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