Thousands o( children eo
wirttour educstioo bccuase
they don't have shoes.
Will you
bare your sole
for them on
April 16th?
§1
April 12, 2013
Student Government Association election allegation
from staff reports
Brevard College students went to the polls
this week to vote for next year’s Student
Government Association officers.
Candidates running for office in the 2013-
2014 academic year included Patrick Helmick
and Kyle Jackola for president, Rory Northam
for vice president, Breanna McMahon and
DeAngelo Smotherson for secretary, Domin
ique Butler and Heather Morris for speaker of
the clubs, and Burton Hodges for treasurer.
Votes are being tallied by Campus Life
staff and election results will be announced
Wednesday during the college’s annual Hon
ors and Awards Day.
However, three students have expressed
concern, one of them via an Emailed letter to
the Clarion, of possible electioneering during
voting in which students staffing the voting
location in Myers Dining Hall were overheard
recommending one candidate over another to
students casting ballots.
The Clarion has spoken with the three stu
dents, who all say they heard a poll worker
telling prospective voters that they should
vote for Helmick. These students have asked
to remain anonymous, despite our requests
for them to go on the record. None of the
three were affiliated with either candidate’s
campaign, and in each case, the sources said
In this issue...
Campus News:
Student Spotlight 2
Symphonic Winds 2
FAFSA workshop 4
Flu Survey 4
Sports:
Track 5
Baseball 6
Women's Tennis 6
Softball 7
Cycling 7
Men's Tennis 7
Odds and Ends:
Event Calendar 8
poll workers’ suggestions for Helmick were
in response to voters expressing a lack of
familiarity with the candidates, or asking poll
workers outright who they should vote for.
“Students wanted to know who candidates
were and the person at the table would point
to Patrick’s name on the ballot and say vote
for him,” one source told The Clarion.
Four students staffed the voting locations
The SGA Constitution
states that campaign
ing “must not take place
directly outside of voting
station” and “must be
conducted in an ethical
and fair manner
determined by SGA and
Campus Life.”
during the election this week, including
current SGA president Elise Labus, vice
president Chantel Azevado, secretary Caro
line Anderson, and student life liaison Mark
Moseley.
When asked about the allegations of elec
tioneering by poll workers, Labus said in
a statement that “the four people that have
manned the tables have been specifically told
and trained not to influence a vote in any way.
If we are asked who a student is, we state their
major and activities on campus.”
Electioneering is defined as actively work
ing for the success of a particular candidate
for office. Most states have laws prohibit
ing poll workers from aetively engaging in
electioneering for a particular candidate or
political party in state or local elections for
public office.
The SGA constitution posted on the Bre
vard College website states in “Article IV;
Elections” that campaigning “must not take
place directly outside of voting station” and
“must be conducted in an ethical and fair man
ner determined by SGA and Campus Life.”
Despite any hiccups that may have occurred
during this year’s election, however, this
year’s SGA officer elections show marked
improvement over the past few years in terms
oftiming and process. In 2011, SGA opted not
to hold elections at all when all candidates for
office ran unopposed. Last year, an election
was held, but many students felt there was not
enough time in the process for voters to get to
know the candidates running for office.
National Association of Teachers of Singing, Regionals
By Erica Zaveta
staff Writer
Rachel Anthony, Natalie Comeaux, Blake
Ellege, and Meg Swinney advanced to the
second round of the National Association of
Teachers of Singing. They were chosen from
the first round of state competition, which
consisted of 600 North Carolina singers.
For regionals, students can compete in
either the Music Theater or the Classical
category. Comeaux, an exercise science major
with a music minor, competed in the Musical
Theater category.
Students were required to perform four
pieces ranging from the 1960- to present,
with a 10 minute allotted time from. After
hearing the first, the judges will choose who
gets to continue.
Comeaux chose to perform Music Theater
because of her background as an active
member of her high school choir. She placed
first for Freshman Women, and she says that
it was a joy to compete.
For her, the experience was new and
exciting. Although she toured in Chicago with
her high school choir, she never experienced
direct contact with the judges.
She is looking forward to next year’s
completion. Nationals are held every other
year.
Come and hear these talented vocalists
perform on Monday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in
the Porter Center with the Brevard College
Choir. It will be a great evening of music.