Campaigning for spring elections is in full force on Grounds, with campaign violations in full swing as well.
Campaign violations include spending over established expenditure limits, chalking on vertical concrete steps or non-concrete surfaces such as slate and posting more than one flyer on each bulletin board.
This year, violations occurred when flyers were posted on the columns outside of Bryan Hall and along the footbridge adjacent to Ruffner Hall. Chalking on non-concrete surfaces also has been a problem.
A major source of concern developed over the use of spray chalk. Many students understandably have confused the spray chalk with spray paint because they look very similar.
At the elections interest meetings, the elections committee told candidates they were not permitted to use spray chalk because Facilities Management was unsure how to deal with the substance.
In the past, Facilities Management has sand-blasted the substance off sidewalks, mistaking it for spray paint.
However, the rule against spray chalk was changed prior to campaigning and candidates were notified via e-mail, said Adam Trusner, Student Council elections committee chairman.
One incident did occur when a candidate used spray paint.
"I purchased what the store clerk and I thought was spray chalk," said Steven Reinemund, who is running for Student Council president. "The following day, on another visit to the store, after I had used the material, another clerk informed me of the error."
Reinemund said he immediately called Trusner and Facilities Management to rectify the situation.
"I am upset by what happened and am footing the bill for the clean-up," Reinemund said.
The Committee did not deem this incident a violation because of Reinemund's good faith effort to bring it to their attention immediately.
Another presidential candidate, Chris Husser, has used an appropriate form of spray chalk during his campaign.
"I contacted Facilities Management before the election and made them aware of what I wanted to use," Husser said.
Further use of spray chalk will be discussed by the elections committee for next year. Aesthetic reasons aside, several candidates said they do not think the use of spray chalk should be allowed because it is not readily available in Charlottesville and needs to be pre-ordered usually over the Internet.
"I don't think that spray chalk should be used in the future because it unlevels the playing field," said Micah Schwartz, who is running for Council president.
After someone reports a violation, the committee notifies the candidate who has been cited by e-mail.
"Normally we give them a certain period of time in which to correct the infraction," Trusner said. If the infraction is not corrected, candidates can have votes deducted from their total, have their expenditure limit decreased or be disqualified, Trusner said. No candidate has suffered a punishment of this kind this year.
"This year, I personally think violations are about the same as other years, if not less," he added.
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