With campaign season in full swing, political parties are back on campus with posters, flyers, pledge cards, buttons and T-shirts.
Members of the Students Party and the Swamp Party stood on Turlington Plaza and at the Reitz Union on Monday and Tuesday to gather ideas to form their platforms for the upcoming Fall elections, which are on Oct. 1 and 2. Both parties will release their platforms later this week.
Students Party volunteers had students write their ideas on poster placards. Suggestions included covered bus stops, transparency in Student Government spending and late-night food options.
Public health management and policy graduate student Kattyana Adrien, 22, suggested tutoring sessions for classes other than science and math.
“What you’ll see on our platform are tangible ideas that students can be a part of,” said party campaign manager Helie Dharia.
The Swamp Party filled six poster boards of ideas. Among them were: more parking on campus, a puppy room and healthier food options.
“Right now it’s important for candidates to meet hopefully future constituents,” said party spokesman Joseph Michaels.
UF public relations graduate student Bridget Robinson, 25, stopped by the Swamp Party table near the Reitz Union and checked off previous suggestions.
She said she felt graduate students are often forgotten among undergraduate organizations.
“We’re still a part of the campus,” she said. “We can play a big role in the election depending on which party we vote for.”
A version of this story ran on page 5 on 9/18/2013 under the headline "SG parties generate platforms using ideas from passers-by"
