Gearing Up - September 27, 2007

What would I do without a little election action at a school I am attending.

Elementary school yielded a presidency, in sixth grade, when I courted the fourth and fifth grade votes, letting one of my friends, and a long-term crush split the sixth grade vote. I easily won that election using political strategy - what 10-year-old has a campaign strategy to wipe out their opponents?

Middle school was no different, as I used the same catchy slogan that worked two years earlier - a play on words using my last name. I presented a top-ten list of reasons to vote for me, which was presented in speech form in front of the entire school, which was a conglomeration of self-deprecating humor. I re-enlisted the strategy that worked as a "youngun" investing my time in the two younger grades, splitting the votes of those my age with my opponent. Again, I won, but the results mirrored that of Florida in the 2000 election, except I think I may have played the role of George W. Bush - I am not entirely happy of this.

High school I skipped the elections, because I had better things to do, like playing fire-fighter, being a manly athletic team captain, busting my lungs in choir. I think females had something to do with it, but who can remember that far back? Anyhow, I was just "too cool" to be part of them then. Plus, I was not the dance-organizing type, and it seemed like that was all they did.

College was rough. It took me twice to win, but the second time was triumphant in many aspects. My campaign was cunning, ground-breaking, and a bit sneaky. My ticket slaughtered our opponents in every aspect of the race, winning by a margin large enough to affect a change in election procedures outlawing both the pooling of money and running on a slate. Good things die hard.

So, three presidencies later, and I still have not learned my lesson.

I have decided to run for the 1L representative of my section (the school is split into two daytime sections and one part-time night section - each daytime section gets two representatives each, and the night section one). It is my belief that there are six of us running for the two positions on the Student Bar Association, known as SBA, (the student government for the law school) for our section.

Campaigning begins Monday morning at 8AM and ends Thursday at 6:ooPM. Voting takes place Wednesday and Thursday, with the results being announced at the Fall Bash, an event full of booze and dancing that is thrown by the SBA. School is bound to be that much more stressful and interesting.

I am preparing some very simple posters that push my well-recognized last name and add a bit of humor. Simplicity and fun is the basis of my strategy, with a balancing of academics and social opportunities as my platform. I do know of two of my opponents running on a ticket together, so hopefully I can create an element of surprise by either breaking up the draw of a slate, or become the dark-horse candidate.

I have tried carefully not create any enemies, and help my classmates if it was at all possible, as I think that this will help me reduce my stress of competition throughout the year, and will invite people to relax as well. I hope to be pleased with my efforts.

I do not have class tomorrow, so the night should be fun. I am a little homesick, but have not reached the date that will mark the longest I have been away from my hometown. I think I handled being in Germany and Denmark more easy than I have New York. Perhaps it was always knowing that I was coming home after that short period. Who knows.

Perhaps when I surpass the six week mark I will celebrate a little with a leave from studying. Or, maybe I will take a lunch break at school. Both sound equally nice.

Off I am, to share a drink with friends and celebrate the end of the week. Time to unwind.