As Election Day draws closer, Ohio University College Democrats and Republicans have fine-tuned their campaigning efforts to respect the university’s restrictions.
One of the restrictions is where and when they can set up their campaign tables as well as an audible sound policy.
“We have to make sure we are nonpartisan, especially during election season,” said Dustin Kilgour, interim associate director of OU Event Services.
The audible sound policy restricts the amount of sound that can be played on campus.
“We also have to protect ourselves from any outstanding costs that a group might not be able to pay… like when the College Democrats brought Obama to campus,” Kilgour said.
To bring a speaker or candidate to campus, organizations must complete paperwork so they understand that they are responsible for their speakers, Kilgour said.
“We must be consistent with all groups,” he said.
Both OU College Republicans and OU College Democrats have focused their efforts on promoting local politicians’ names and their parties’ presidential candidates.
“Getting out the candidates’ names is the most important thing,” said Dylan Gustafson, communications chair for the OU College Republicans. “It’s really important to get to the people of Athens.”
OU College Democrats hopes to continue the momentum it set in motion when President Barack Obama visited campus, said Shannon Welch, president of the group.
“Right now, we are just talking to students and pushing them to vote,” said Welch, who is also the campus leader of Bobcats for Obama.
Both student organizations are going door-to-door to promote their parties’ presidential and local candidates.
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