University Star

Using the best forms of advertising they can think of, and the element of surprise, three candidates are heading toward a marketing finish line with less than one week until the election.

“To reach different voters, we really want to try and utilize every aspect,” said Trenton Thomas, ASG presidential candidate. “We are going to be out publicizing and getting the point out to whoever is interested. We are trying to hit up every organization from residence halls to greek councils.”

Thomas said he is trying several methods of marketing for his campaign. Facebook has been a popular outlet for the campaign, he said.
“In our day and age, everyone loves Facebook,” Thomas said. “Literally, the first day we opened it we had 200 people join the group.

Millions of people use Facebook, and being visible for everyone is really important. It also feels great to have the support as well. It is nice to see people write on the wall that they are behind us.”

Thomas said he is asking the leaders of the organizations what they need and what they feel needs to be done differently.

“We are trying to get the word out of what we stand for,” Thomas said. “Also, we have utilized Facebook to the best of our ability. We have a group and invite people to take a look at us and what we stand for. We have had some great questions regarding our values and giving back to the community.”

Tommy Luna, vice presidential candidate supporting Chris Covo for president, said the key to their marketing strategy is speaking with student leaders.

“We feel that student leaders have a large part in what we are trying to do,” Luna said. “We want word to spread between students. We want people to ask questions that they want answered from the people who are trying to run to be their student leaders.”

The Pan-Hellenic greek council is supporting them, Luna said.

The Covo Luna campaign has raised more than $3,000.

“We had family members of senate members donate money,” Luna said. “It is actually great, because they have all been small donations that have added up to more than $3,000 toward our campaign.”

Luna said the senators and supporters for their campaign are rotating between three tents set-up across campus. They have been speaking on behalf of Covo and Luna in their classes as well, he said.

“It’s very basic: students need to know what’s going on,” Covo said. “For us, our primary goal was name recognition. You see Covo / Luna everywhere during the day. It was our biggest strategy, marketing-wise, and I think it’s working for us.”
Brice Loving, presidential candidate, is leaving his campaign strategy a secret.

“My name is pretty memorable in itself,” Loving said. “A name like ‘Loving’ is something you will not forget, so one of my strengths is to utilize it in my Web site, voteloving.com. It is easy to spell, and a great communication device.”
Loving said Web sites are an effective strategy for reaching college students.

“In the large scale of things, it is an excellent way to communicate,” Loving said. “Everything has a Web site. One of my marketing signs is a flyer that says, ‘I am a Loving Bobcat.'"

Loving said he has spoken with several of the greek councils, along with the other two candidates.

“Because the motto of ASG is students serving students, my campaign is focusing on students,” Loving said. “It comes down to what I am serving the students. We pass a lot of legislation, but most people cannot name more than one or two things that we have done for the university. I would like to let students know what they are going to get. What my speeches come down to is what I can do for students.”

Loving said he will release his campaign strategy soon, and students will have to wait to see.