The Student Government Association relaxed from its regular campaign practices last Thursday at Rock the Vote in the Busch Memorial Center’s Billiken Club. Combined with KSLU’s Open Mic Night, the event allowed students to see the candidates in a more casual setting.
Originally, the SGA Election Commission was planning an event similar to the question-and-answer sessions seen on MTV. However, KSLU asked to use the Billiken Club at the same time as the commission.
“It was intended to be a discussion of the issues,” said Lauren Gretz, SGA election commissioner. “Then KSLU asked if they could use the room on the same night. So we decided to combine the events.”
The night was filled with expected and unexpected events as a version of “All Along the Watchtower” turned into “The Night the Lights Went Out In the BMC” due to a blown fuse. Despite two more interruptions, SGA candidates and bands were able to keep the attention of more than 200 students.
The night opened with a performance from Stoked Mobius, a mix of two acoustic guitars and an electric bass. After its first song, the band entered into an a capella techno mix and followed it with The Dave Matthews Band’s version of Bob Dylan’s “Watchtower.”
Due to the blown fuse, guitarist Adam Geisen filled time by traveling to the bar, while playing and ordering a beer, while frontman Brent Fernandez entertained the front of the room.
Between bands, Student Activities Board member Brandon Rashon introduced candidates and asked questions written by students. Questions ranged from “Who is the hottest guy on campus,” asked to Financial Vice Presidential candidates Chad Kreikemier and Ricardo Fernandez, to “What will you do to foster more student activities,” asked to Administrative Vice Presidential candidates Mike Parrino and Vincent Giacabazi.
Candidates also partook in a few acts as well. In an act reminiscent of Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on Arseneo Hall in the 1992 election, Presidential candidate Mike Rozier danced for a short while to N’Sync’s “Dirty Pop.” “I don’t know if it will help me win or not,” Rozier said.
Entertainment also included a dance-off between Kreikemeier and Fernandez. “We’re still in college,” Kreikemeier said. “Let’s just have some fun.”
Candidates also joked about themselves and other topics surrounding the election.
“I guess [Matt Love and Rozier] the geeks,” Love said, when asked about an editorial cartoon that categorized their tickets into “A geek, three Greeks and a minority.”
The evening was a part of pre-election events that began with a debate between the tickets of “Bridging the Gap” and “Uniting for Change.”
“This event is intended to be more informal where everyone can just relax,” Gretz said. “We hope this gets more students involved.”
The event was not solely planned by the SGA and SAB. KSLU was responsible for the Open Mic Night.
Students were entertained with a variety of music, featuring a list of acts ranging from one-man guitar shows to a rap duo. Dollar Homes and City Clay, a Kid Rock look-alike for the night, performed an original song.
“I’ve seen City Clay, now I can die a happy man,” said Matt Marino, an attendee who heard the music from Starbucks across the hall from the Billiken Club, where the show took place.
The event made more than $400 for the BMC’s renovation, and an Open Mice Night will be held in the future.
