Official Campaign Guidelines
Timeline
- Thursday, March 1st – Applications for running for a Student Government Office are available at Student Government Office
- Friday, March 23rd – Applications for running for a Student Government Office are Due by noon in SGA Office, UC 207
- March 26th through April 3rd – Campaing Week
- Wednesday and Thursday, April 4th & 5th – Elections
Campaign Events
There are several campaign events that you should plan on attending as a candidate for SGA office:
Mandatory Candidate Meeting
UC 207
All candidates are required to attend this mandatory meeting for an overview of all rules and regulations for candidacy. If you cannot attend this meeting, please call Tiera Wright prior to the meeting to schedule an appointment at 825-5745. If you fail to attend this meeting or schedule an appointment prior to noon on Friday, March 24, you will be disqualified from the election.
Campaign Week
Monday, March 26th until Tuesday, April 3rd
Campus-Wide
Candidates may begin campaigning for office starting on the Monday, March 26. Creativity is encouraged within the election code of ethics, election guidelines and university rules governing campus postings. You may use posters, banners, flyers, sidewalk chalk, leaflets, and other mechanisms to campaign. Anything else must be shown to the election committee and will be at their discretion for approval. However, you MUST remove all of your campaign materials after the elections, excluding banners which must be taken down the day before. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. If you are in doubt about what campaign materials are appropriate, please contact Tiera at 825-5745.
Elections
Wednesday and Thursday, April 4th & 5th
9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
UC Commons
The main voting station will be set up in the UC Commons. On this day, no one can display or distribute any campaign materials or ask people to vote for you within the entire UC. Remind people that they will need their $andDollar$ card to vote.
Swearing-In Ceremony
Newly elected SGA officers will be sworn in at the weekly SGA meeting.
Campaign Rules
Any student that violates election code of ethics, election guidelines, the university’s statement of student rights and responsibilities, the statement of civility, or the posting policies and procedures may be subject to a disciplinary hearing. Proven violations may result in disqualification from the election and/or other sanctions to be determined on a case-by-case basis. The SGA Election Committee is responsible for enforcing campaign rules. The committee will determine which violations shall result in warnings and which will result in disciplinary hearings. The SGA Judicial Board will preside over disciplinary hearings.
Election Code of Ethics (as stated by the SGA Constitution & Bylaws)
- Any candidate running for office cannot be affiliated in any manner with the Election Committee and/or the Judicial Board. This includes but is not limited to counting ballots or certifying the election.
- Any student on the Election Committee cannot campaign for a candidate. It will result in disqualification for the candidate and disciplinary hearing for the Election Committee Member.
- A candidate, or any student affiliated with him/her, may not put up campaign material in unauthorized areas.
- A candidate may not display or distribute campaign material within voting area.
- All banners in the University Center must be removed by the day of the election.
- A candidate or anyone affiliated with the candidate may not take down, cover, mark, tear, or deface in any manner another candidates’ campaign material.
Election Guidelines (determined by the SGA Election Committee)
- No clothing, buttons, stickers, hats, sandwich boards or anything that is purposely used as a means to campaign for a candidate will be allowed in the voting area. This does not include items that a voter may bring into the University Center for their own personal use without the intent to distribute (i.e., flyers, candy, or other give-aways). However, if these items are displayed for the viewing by others, then they could be considered as displayed or distributed campaign materials and can subject the candidate to a disciplinary hearing or election warning.
- According to University Center guidelines, no disturbances will be condoned such as loud music, yelling, etc. Violation of this policy may result in the immediate removal of the violator from the building as well as a disciplinary hearing for the candidate. Disturbances will be defined by University Center staff on a case-by-case basis. For more information, contact Lisa Perez, University Center Director.
- All display and distribution of campaign materials within the University Center must comply with University Center guidelines. Violation of this policy may result in the immediate removal of campaign materials from the building as well as a disciplinary hearing for the candidate. For more information, contact Lisa Perez, University Center Director.
- Complaints against other candidates must be put in writing and submitted to the Election Committee Chair or the SGA Advisor by the end of the election.
- All campaign materials must
be removed before campaign winners are announced.
Statement of Civility
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has a diverse student population that represents the population of the state. Our goal is to provide you with a high quality educational experience that is free from repression. You are responsible for following the rules of the University, city, state and federal government. We expect that you will behave in a manner that is dignified, respectful and courteous to all people, regardless of sex, ethnic/racial origin, religious background, sexual orientation or disability. Behaviors that infringe on the rights of another individual will not be tolerated.
University Posting Policies & Procedures
Bulletin boards are available on campus to assist with the promotion and publicity of events that may interest the campus community. Postings include posters, flyers, handouts, displays, etc. Because there is limited bulletin board space on campus, certain regulations are enforced to ensure that the boards are used appropriately.
Recognized Student Organization Postings
Postings by recognized student organizations may be placed on all bulletin boards throughout the campus (unless otherwise noted on board). All postings must be approved and stamped by the election committee. Postings in the University Center must also be approved and stamped by the UC Information Desk. It is the organization’s responsibility to hang their own postings and take them down after the advertised event. Failure to do so may result in the termination of bulletin board privileges.
Personal Student Postings
Personal student postings (including SGA candidates’ campaign materials) must be approved and stamped by the election committee and may be placed on all bulletin boards throughout the campus (unless otherwise noted on bulletin board). Postings in the University Center must be approved and stamped by the UC Information Desk. Personal student postings include flyers advertising personal items for sale, recitals, roommate requests, etc. Postings regarding student-run businesses, bands playing at local clubs, etc., are not considered student postings and should follow the commercial posting regulations.
Departmental Postings
Departmental postings may be placed in designated departmental bulletin boards as well as all bulletin boards across campus. If general bulletin boards are used, they must be stamped by the election committee. Postings in the University Center must be approved and stamped by the UC Information Desk
Commercial Postings
All external commercial business postings must be reviewed and approved by the Assistant Vice President for University Services. Approved postings may be placed on all bulletin boards throughout the campus (unless otherwise noted on bulletin board).
General Regulations
- No signage postings on outside buildings are allowed on campus.
- Do not post signs over other postings.
- Use thumbtacks, not staples.
- No postings are allowed on any trashcans, windows, doors, or walls on any building on campus.
- The kiosk outside the Center for the Arts will be dedicated to the theater and fine arts events.
- Each academic department will have a designated bulletin board for postings.
- All postings must have a date, location, time, and name of sponsoring group.
- Special university events will be reviewed on an individual basis to assist in promoting the event.
- Posters and flyers cannot be placed on the windshields of cars parked on campus-including Camden Miramar.
- The removal of the posting is the responsibility of the sponsoring individual/group.
Flyers & Handbills
- Must be no bigger than 8 ½” x 11”.
- Maximum of two are allowed per bulletin board. However, in order to assure that all candidates can display a flyer, the Election Committee reserves the right to remove a flyer if space on the bulletin board is limited.
- All flyers and handbills must be stamped by the election committee (and the UC if displayed or distributed in the UC). Failure to receive proper approval may result in the removal of campaign promotions. (Note: Get original flyer stamped by election committee and UC before making copies).
- Camden Miramar campaigning will be limited to one flyer per laundry room and lobby. Approval for flyer must be given from election committee and Camden Miramar Club House.
- Doors of dorms and apartments may be decorated pending approval from Camden Miramar.
- ¼ sheets flyers for school mail boxes must be stamped by Student Activities and the election committee; not by the UC downstairs.
Signs & Banners
- The only outdoor signs that are acceptable are stake signs. Signs on stakes cannot be larger than 24” x 36”.
- Sandwich boards may not be worn in viewing distance of the central voting table.
- All signs, boards and banners must be stamped by the election committee.
- All signs, boards and banners must be removed before campaign winners are announced.
- Indoor signs may be placed in various buildings upon approval from the building’s coordinator. Please turn in the Interior Banner Approval Form to the election committee, University Center 207, after obtaining permission but before posting your sign. A copy of the form is attached to this packet.
- All available banner spaces have been reserved by Student Government for candidates. To request a space, please fill out the attached SGA Candidate Banner Space Reservation Form. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to candidates. Only one space is available per candidate/candidate team. These banners will be removed prior to election day according to the Election Code of Ethics.
- SOC opens at 9am, banner must be length of table in the SOC.
- No window painting is permitted in any building.
Campaign Buttons, T-Shirts, Hats, Pencils, Candy, Etc.
- All such campaign tactics do not require a stamp, but still must receive approval from the election committee. Candidates should complete the Campaign Promotion Approval form to UC 207 in the SGA office.
- Each Candidate must turn in a sample of what will be passed out to the election committee chair for approval before being distributed.
- T-shirts can be worn during campaign week, but not on election days.
- Each t-shirt seen on election days will result in one election warning per person and/or if a team running for Pres/VP is seen wearing a t-shirt they to will each receive one warning. It will be the candidate’s responsibility to tell those wearing their t-shirts, the election guideline rules.
- If a written complaint or a violation is witnessed by an election committee member, then a warning will be issued.
- Candidates will be notified within two business days if their campaign tactic is approved. A copy of the form is attached to this packet.
Sidewalk Chalk
- Sidewalk chalk may be used on any sidewalk on campus, but messages must be approved prior to chalking. Candidates should complete the Sidewalk Chalk Approval Form to the election committee, University Center 207. Candidates will be notified within two business days if their sidewalk message is approved. No paint of any type, including water-based chalk paint, may be used on the sidewalks. Sidewalk space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Candidates may not chalk within two feet (24”) of any other chalking on the sidewalk. All sidewalk chalk must be removed before campaign winners are announced.
- Sidewalk chalking cannot be any larger than 6’ x 6’. The exception is smaller squares around campus- and they may not be written outside of.
- No chalking on memorials will be allowed (Lee Plaza and Hector P. Garcia)
- No chalking on Camden Miramar property will be allowed.
Electronic Campaigning
Absolutely no electronic campaigning will be allowed. This includes but is not limited to, creating websites, emails, and Facebook/Myspace campaigning.
Warning System
- The Election Committee has determined that candidates will be allowed up to two warnings prior to being subject to a disciplinary hearing in the following situations:
- Violating campaign rules of campaigning in the UC and other voting areas while displaying or distributing campaign materials.
- Posting signs, banners, stake signs, etc. that exceed the size limitation
- Posting campaign materials in prohibited areas
- Missing pre-scheduled campaign events without authorization.
- Distribution or display of unapproved flyers, banners, handbills, stake signs, sidewalk chalking, etc.
- Display or distribution of unapproved campaign promotions (i.e., t-shirts, hats, buttons, etc.).
- Violation of UC guidelines.
- Organized campaigning prior to scheduled campaign week (verbal campaigning is acceptable).
- Malicious slandering of competing candidates.
- Other violations per Election Committee discretion.
Once a third warning is issued, it will result in disqualification from the election.
PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING, ASK FIRST! Proven violations may result in disqualification from the election and/or other sanctions to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Please direct all questions regarding these guidelines to Tiera Wright at 825-5745, Tiera.Wright@mail.tamucc.edu or come by UC 207.
Committees
Vacancies
- Graduate Senator
- Graduate Senator
- Freshman Senator
- Science & Technology Senator
Forms
