S.G.A. President Clarifies Social Networking Campaign Rules

Campaigns are around the corner, and S.G.A. is clarifying the rules.

NORTH LOUNGE, Cushing Center — With campaigns for Student Government Association president and vice president to begin on Tuesday, outgoing president Scott Campbell '10 clarified social networking campaign rules at Sunday's student senate meeting

Use of social networking websites, including Facebook, in campaigns has been permitted and is governed under S.G.A. election by-laws. But the policies needed clarification and updating, Mr. Campbell said.

Anticipating their campaigns several weeks from today, several senators expressed concern about the policy and the consequences of holding candidates responsible for posts by supporters to their campaign Facebook groups.

"If someone goes on and posts something offensive or derogatory, it will be the candidate's responsibility to report that person [to the S.G.A. internal procedures secretary,]" Mr. Campbell said.

The internal procedures secretary, Alyssa Hatem '12, said she expects candidates will "regularly" check their online presences, although she will not continuously refresh candidates pages to check for offensive comments.

"I don't think anybody wants to do that," Ms. Hatem said.

The clarification is intended to clarify the by-laws and constitutional regulations applicable to campaigns, Mr. Campbell said. Senator John McDermott '11, who helped craft the policies, says the oversight is akin to the stoneface stamp, which must be affixed to campaign posters by the Student Activities and Leadership Programs office.

The language of the policy says that by-laws will apply to social networking sites, and that such sites must be removed within the timeframe specified by the S.G.A.

"If you as a candidate feel that people are harassing you in support of another candidate on facebook, you can choose to confront it or you can choose to ignore it," Campbell said.

- gww