MN Daily article on MSA elections

I thought this article was pretty interesting. It's about how blogs and facebook groups are having an input on the debates leading up to the election for MSA President.

As the 2005 Minnesota Student Association presidential campaign heats up, technology is playing a greater role than ever before, candidates said.

MSA leaders and candidates said they keep updated on campaign news through several Web logs, known as blogs. Meanwhile, supporters of each campaign communicate through thefacebook.com, an online social network. Campaign Web sites also feature candidates’ biographies and stances.

MSA Forum member Aaron Solem, who writes one of the two blogs MSA candidates frequently visit, said technology has already affected this election cycle.

“We’re seeing candidates scrutinized much more often,” he said. “We’re seeing a freer, more open debate of ideas.”

Now, I think MSA sounds pretty boring, so I decided not to run even though I was encouraged to, and in fact nearly guaranteed to win. (Because of the all-powerful UDFL endorsement, not because of any divine charisma or great political prowess. In fact, I think I would be a pretty crappy student government member.) But I applaud those who sacrifice their time and mental capabilities to (hopefully) solve some of the problems the U is facing.