In the past, Student Government Board presidential candidates have invited Pitt students to… In the past, Student Government Board presidential candidates have invited Pitt students to come and meet with them to discuss election issues.

In an effort to boost voter turnout, the SGB elections committee swapped that system in favor of having the candidates approach the students this year.

Candidates and others affiliated with the election visited Pitt residence halls from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, trying to increase voter awareness. Either a volunteer or a member of the elections committee escorted each candidate.

It is usually against University policy for candidates to enter dorm rooms campaigning, but this year the elections committee obtained permission from Residence Life to organize this particular event.

Presidential candidates – and current board members – Ransom and Joe Pasqualichio were eager to let the students hear why they were running.

“I am going to try to reach out to as many students as I can,” Ransom said, “and tell them what my slate is and what I am running on.”

Pasqualichio said that he also wanted to spread his message, but that the elections committee’s main goal for the evening was to boost election numbers.

“I think it’s easier for students to find out there is an election happening,” Pasqualichio said.

Presidential candidate Joe Salvatore, a former board member, agreed that the event was a good way to inform students about the election.

“I think it’s beneficial to get exposure to the freshman class,” Salvatore said, adding that because freshmen have only gone to Pitt for a couple months, they might not know as much about student elections.

Salvatore thought that the event was a good chance for students to ask more questions and meet the candidates on a personal basis.

But not everyone felt the same way.

Presidential candidate Joe Gookin said that he only agreed to attend the event because the elections committee spent a lot of time organizing it.

“I’m so morally opposed to this,” Gookin said. “It’s a Thursday night at 8 p.m. We are going to interrupt something. I feel that this is going around begging for votes.”