Issue date: 4/5/02 Section: Campus Life

As candidates make their final push for Tuesday's elections, it is perhaps the most unlikely campaign that has emerged as the most highly contested.

Paul Freilino '03 and C.J. Sentell '03, the only candidates for the Academic Issues Chair (AIC), have quite a bit in common. Both have experienced Senate life. Both are Martin men; Freilino is currently the second floor RA—This was Sentell's position last year. In the midst of all these similarities, a campaign for the position has polarized the two.

When Freilino discovered that his campaign posters in Martin had been defaced, he decided to address the men of Martin with a letter posted on the bathroom stalls. The letter was meant to "address the negative perception towards RAs in [Martin Hall]," it read.

According to Freilino this negative perception was brought about by his duties as a resident assistant. "It's been building up over the year. I know it's only a few people. They need to understand that the RAs are not trying to make their lives a living hell," Freilino said.

Freilino admits that his responsibilities as an RA have unjustly contributed to some negative images of himself. He said, "The people that don't like me are the ones that don't know me. I'm just doing my job. Anybody that's an RA in Martin Hall who did their job would get the same treatment."

Although not addressed in his letter, Freilino became upset by a campaign poster posted by his opponent in Martin Hall which read, "C.J. Sentell He won't give you hell." It was at this point, Freilino said, that he believed his opponent was using this negative image to Freilino's disadvantage. Freilino said, "I'm running for the Academic Issues Chair. That has nothing to do with social policy. I think that my opponent is using an inaccurate image against me. It's a definite hit."

Sentell dismissed the advertisement as a joke and vowed to take the poster down if asked by Freilino. "I put the sign up in Martin in a joking manner," Sentell said. While Sentell said that he did not mean to imply anything by the sign, he did say, "I was hoping that [Freilino] could laugh at himself and the position he put himself in at Martin."

As a former RA of Martin Hall, Sentell spoke unfavorably of Freilino's tactics and the prospect of Freilino becoming the AIC. Sentell said, "The inflexibility he's shown, in dealing with students on campus speaks to a broader problem. Next year, when we're all going to have to be flexible and dynamic with academics in the transition, the person who is going to be in this office will have to make choices that are flexible."

Sentell cited his involvement in academics. He said, "I've been involved in the Committee on Curriculum, internships with the Hendrix President and Dean of Students. I work at the Office of the Registrar. I am the founding editor of The Pierian Spring, an undergraduate research journal in humanities for the Association of Colleges of the South."

According to Freilino's resident Trey Craven '04, Freilino has been an effective RA. "He's doing his job and a good job of it. He's not out to get anybody," Craven said. Resident Carter Simcoe '04 echoed Craven's sentiments. He said, "We don't have any problem with Paul. I think he does a fine job. Everybody has taken the negative image of him too far."

In spite of all the talk about Freilino's character, both Freilino and Sentell insist they want to stick to the issues. "This position is not about our silly campus politics. It's about the person who would represent the students' interests in the best way possible," Sentell said.

This Tuesday voters can decide for themselves. Neither candidate's issues or perceptions will be listed on the ballot.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools