For a long time, The Daily Gamecock wasn’t allowed to endorse candidates for any office.
But after years of watching campaign seasons fly by and reporting the results, editors decided enough was enough — newspapers have editorial sections for a reason, and endorsements play a key role in those sections.
So, without further ado, here’s how our Student Government endorsement process works:
We invited all seven candidates to endorsement interviews in the newsroom over the weekend, and we interviewed them all the same way. Each was given time to present an opening statement before and a closing statement after our staff asked him questions about his platform, goals, experience and views on what students care about most. And, because we were curious, we also asked each candidate who he would endorse if he were to lose the election. (Disclaimer: We did not ask Ian Shannon to endorse anyone because he’s running unopposed, and that would have been a waste of time.)
Each candidate also has a profile in today’s issue to give students a look at the candidate behind the platform. Don’t forget: they’re students, too.
We spent hours interviewing each candidate and debating who would best serve the student body because we want students to know everything they can before heading to Self Service Carolina Tuesday and Wednesday to cast their votes.
We take this process seriously because the results of these elections are anything but fleeting or temporary.
Think of it this way: you’re here for four years, and the results of this election could impact 25 percent of that time. Don’t you want some say in that?