Candidate Interviews

This past weekend, we did our candidate interviews for spots in the Student Association, Marvin Center Governing board, and Program Board. I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about how and why we do this.

As to the how, it’s simple. Each candidate scheduled a time, and they came in, sat down in front of the video camera, and answered our questions. Managing Editor Riki Parikh and Campus News Editor Emily Metz interviewed the candidates, while Opinion Editor Gillian McHale and her deputy, Brittney Bolin, began taking notes for their endorsement process. Meanwhile, I scheduled, supervised and ran the technical end of the whole thing.

The “why” is a little more complicated. It seemed like a few of the candidates came in with the idea that they had to pander to us, and win our endorsement. The thing is, these aren’t purely endorsement interviews. Trying to win us over or (shame, shame to one or two candidates) suggest how your election could help us as an organization only did two things: a) made you look stupid in your interview, and b) actually made or opinion department less likely to endorse you.

These interviews form the foundation of our election coverage. We do them primarily because we need a baseline, a starting point for each candidate. We use them as background in our news articles as well as the profile for each candidate in our election special. As such, the questions we chose to ask were news questions – not endorsement questions.

As for the actual endorsements, they really aren’t based on how candidates can help us. When a student org, such as the International Affairs Society, endorses a candidate, they are looking for how a candidate will help their organization, especially in terms of money. Seeing as the SA really can’t help us in any way (except, perhaps, by shortening their meetings so my reporters can get some sleep), we base ours on what we think is best for the student body as a whole.

When we come out with our endorsements, they are going to be based on who can help the GW community, and who is qualified for the position. Experience matters. Connection to students matters. Awareness of the issues matters. Most of all, good ideas that can be practically implemented matter.

What we as an editorial board want, individually, doesn’t matter. The Daily Colonial isn’t about us – that’s why we don’t waste space with articles about what we’re doing. It’s about being a voice for the students.

Our endorsements aren’t about what we want – they’re about what the university needs.