Memphis University School - Owl Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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John Walt and C ' p Wood join fellow candidates stationed outside the gym in last-ditch attempts to influence voters. Despite then- efforts, both lost close run-off elections. John ran for President of the Student Council and Chip was in the Secretary-Treasurer race. In an effort to sway votes, three candidates brought the well-known blues player Mose Vinson to Hyde Chapel. Anticipated to be a highlight of the week ' s entertamment, his piano playing left perhaps only Mose himself drooling. 16 STUDENT LIFE

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EVENT

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ELECTIONS Candidates ' Week-Long Grasps for Leadership Roles Spring elections for the Student Council offices of the ' 78- ' 79 year breathed life into a student body that was trudging through the post-spring-break stretch. Immediate student interest came with the arrival of election week. Hungry for any break in the routine, students enjoyed a diversion, elections, that is theoretically a serious part of the system. When the Red and Blue conventions selected their candidates, and petitions for office began to circulate, each candidate had feelings of apprehension and enthusiam — apprehension about the load of work that lay ahead and enthusiam about the chance to have a good time and be the center of attention for one week. Many candidates burst forth immediately with their campaigns. The prospective office- holders and their friends organized campaigns based on both traditional objectives and new ideas. Hours of planning were spent at both the candidates ' houses and at school. By the second or third day of work, however, much of the enthusiasm had been replaced by fatigue and worry. Many hopefuls spent much of their time on the Freshman and Sophomore classes in an effort to involve them in the politics of the school. All who took part in the elections plastered the walls with posters and passed out candy in an all-out effort to make themselves known to the student body. Some made phone calls to students whom they did not even know; others used intimidation as a means of getting votes. Most of the last night was spent preparing the all-important campaign speech. The candidates used almost every possible method to attract attention to themselves and to appeal to the students for votes. A few, however, took their quests for votes too far and actually lost popularity. Thursday morning, after the speeches were completed, candidates heaved a sigh of relief. The polls would open soon; election week was almost over. Many of the students who were running had felt, for the first time, that they were really a part of MUS. These students now had a chance to fill the positions that they had admired others in just a year before. Some would leave school that day ecstatic with joy , others with a sense of noble disappointment. But all would depart with a feeling of accomplishment. As the winners were announced Thursday afternoon, the chapel was filled with anticipation. Each candidate waited patiently for his name to be called. He knew that the eventful week would determine conclusively the role that he would play in the school year to come. As the victors ' names were called, one could sense the feelings of elation and accomplishment that filled each winner. But once the celebration time was over, the new Student Council leaders knew that they had to begin thinking seriously about their new jobs and responsibilities in the not-so-distant future. The fun of election week was over; it was now time to be serious about their responsibilities as school leaders. Unable lo cope with election-week stress, candidate Breck Bolton is dnven to Kleptomania. During a free period, Breck makes an ingenious attempt at stealing votes by retagging an opponent ' s candy with his own name. SPRING 17