Freshmen running in the fall 2019 elections will not be allowed to campaign with posters or flyers, according to legislation passed by Elon University SGA tonight.
After much debate, SGA decided no paper was allowed to be used in the next election unless it "is used in an effective manner." The SGA elections packet, outlining the guidelines for the next elections, gave examples of attaching paper to candy wrappers, food or handing out stickers.
Katherine Park, junior and co-chair of the elections committee, said this was decided for two reasons — for environmental concerns and to promote healthy competition between candidates.
Park said this would help with "messiness" of flyers around campus. Going paperless was a recommendation from the university, according to junior Louisa Sholar, vice president of SGA.
Jonathan Stettler, sophomore and senator for the School of Arts and Sciences, said SGA should focus on campaigning through social media rather than posters.
"As we move to modernize elections, I think we need to consider adapting innovative approaches to elections as we communicate with our constituents," Stettler said.
The new elections packet passed with four senators opposed and three who abstained.
Leila Jackson contributed to the reporting of this story.