Women need to enter race, Rosoff charged again

Even in one day, the election field is narrowing and growing. I followed up with some of the people mentioned in yesterday’s column and got some updates, including another name to add to the list of those running.

NEW FACES, NEW CHARGES AND ONE LEAVING THE RACE

Brandon Southward — Apparently, Southward is much more serious about running for president than I thought.

“I’m definitely seriously considering running for president right now,” Southward said. “I’m talking to some people to see if it would even be viable, but count me in for now — unofficially, of course.”

Southward, former editor-in-chief of the Barometer and a political science major, could really bring a new element to the election. He is an ASOSU outsider, but he knows how the system works. Either as vice president or running his own campaign, he could be a powerful figure in Snell Hall.

Matt Palm — Palm told me he unfortunately won’t be attending OSU next year, so we can rule him out of the running. Which is a little sad really, I was sort of looking forward to a Francis Urquhart/Francis Underwood style of leadership — minus all the murder, of course.

Jeffrey Evans — Evans is running for president this year as well, which I wasn’t aware of Sunday. Evans has been an ever-constant thorn in the OSU administration’s side the last few years, agitating for accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and has been president of the Able Students Alliance.

Evans is abrasive, a bit of curmudgeon, doesn’t like compromise and has no qualms about picking fights with university officials — or whoever for that matter. He could be a powerful voice in getting the university to comply with ADA, but I’m not sure how he is going to be able to build a campaign team or get his name out to constituents to win. Also, if he does win, I imagine some incredibly awkward OSU cabinet meetings up on the sixth floor of Kerr.

Nick Rosoff — The elections committee is calling Rosoff to appear again before them on Wednesday at 8 a.m. An email sent by ASOSU Vice President Dan Cushing yesterday said the committee will review “the materials you provided at your event last Friday at the NAL regarding elected and appointed positions in ASOSU.”

It looks like Rosoff hasn’t been able to keep his nose clean, and considering he was almost disqualified last week, I wouldn’t be surprised if the committee really cracks the whip this time. If he wants to have any chance of staying in this election and having a chance to run or be on the ballot at all, he needs to keep a low profile between now and April 1. And that would mean following the mandates of the election committee.

ELECTIONS RULES, ARE THEY GOOD?

While Rosoff is obviously violating the election rules and the parameters the committee set for him, are those rules really enforceable? And why is the committee singling out Rosoff?
Rosoff is being silly by flouting the election’s rules, but at least he is open and honest about it. The other campaigns are putting together campaign teams, feeling out the terrain and planning moves, whether that is picking a running mate or getting a campaign manager. What the other campaigns are doing behind closed doors and on the sly, at least Rosoff is being honest about. And can we really fault him for admitting doing what everyone else is obviously doing?
Perhaps the rules should be changed. Why can’t candidates start campaigning until April 1? Two weeks is impossible to put together a campaign and make a run for the presidency, and anyone who isn’t starting to put a team together now is going to lose. So, instead of pretending it isn’t happening and punishing the one person who is at least being honest about it, maybe the rules should change.

WOMEN CANDIDATES STEP UP

After writing my column yesterday, I realized there was something severely lacking from the lists of candidates I provided — women. And it is sad that among those openly considering running none are women.

I’m not sure how to fix it, but women should seriously consider running for office. There are many viable women out there, and they need to jump on a great opportunity like ASOSU president. But, that’s for them to decide.

Don Iler is a senior in history. The opinions expressed in his columns do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Iler can be reached at editor@dailybarometer.com on Twitter @doniler.