SAE brothers to face each other in presidential race

Two members of the same fraternity are running against one another for president of Student… Two members of the same fraternity are running against one another for president of Student Government Board.

Board member Joe Pasqualichio and former board member Joe Salvatore are both members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Presidential candidate and board member Zach Ransom is also a Greek.

While Salvatore, a former SGB member, declined to comment, Pasqualichio said that he was surprised to find that he was not the only brother from his fraternity seeking the presidency.

“I thought it was a joke, but I don’t think it will divide our house,” Pasqualichio said.”There are things we do on a daily basis that are more important.”

SAE President Chris Carr was confident that the elections will not have an effect on his fraternity.

“The house won’t officially support either one, and we hope that one of them will win,” Carr said.

The split in votes could allow Ransom to seize a lead in the election.

Ransom said that he is confident in his bid for president but is disheartened by the possibility of interfraternal politics.

“It’s never a warm feeling when one of your frat brothers goes against you,” Ransom said. “I am confident that the people staffing my campaign will do a good job.”

Though they wear the same letters, Pasqualichio and Salvatore stand on different platforms.

“I am just trying to run with a no drama platform,” Salvatore said.

Pasqualichio has taken a different approach in his campaign and message.

“We are college kids and we have some power and I know it goes to people’s heads,” he said. “It’s not possible to be rid of drama. As president, I’d like to decrease wasted politics and be more productive.”

The fact that three out of three candidates are Greek is not an anomaly. Five out of eight SGB members are Greek, including President Brian Kelly.

Ransom, Kelly and board member Dilinus Harris are members of Lambda Chi Alpha.

Harris was a part of Salvatore’s campaign for the board in 2003. According to the elections code, however, board members are not permitted to use their status on the board to promote candidates in the upcoming election.

Salvatore specified that Harris was not going to violate the elections code by supporting Salvatore’s campaign.

“I have been talking to Dilinus as a friend, but he will not be able to be an official part of my campaign,” Salvatore said.

Kelly said that in the end, candidates – not supporters or organizations – win elections.

“In SGB you can have anyone running your campaign. You should worry about your opponents, not who’s behind them,” he said.