By
Kevin Clerici
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Some returned, culprits still unknown
ASUA candidates were scrambling across campus early yesterday replacing campaign banners that were torn down and slashed over the weekend, only to find out later that some of the banners were returned undamaged.
Last night at around 11 p.m., Senate candidate Sarah Calvert was leaving her dorm room in Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall to put up campaign fliers when she discovered a bundle of campaign banners lying in the stairwell at the end of her hall. She estimated eight or nine in the bunch. There was no note.
"They were just gone," said presidential hopeful Kristel Miller, an English and political science sophomore, who got a phone call Saturday evening informing her that her banners were missing. "Tables were knocked over. They were ripped out of the trees. There was no method to the madness. Everyone's seemed to be gone."
Ray Quintero, Miller's opponent, said yesterday he's missing four banners.
Senate candidate Josh Maxwell found out Saturday that one of his banners hanging outside the Forbes Building was slashed Friday night.
Two banners belonging to Administrative Vice President candidate Tricia Williams were also taken. One was returned in the bundle at Graham-Greenlee, but her first name had been ripped off. Exec. VP candidate Matt Bailey is missing three signs.
"It's a little disheartening," Williams said. "I hope it wasn't people involved in the election, because they know it takes two hours to create a new banner."
Each candidate has a campaign budget - $305 for presidents, $265 for admin. VPs and exec. VPs and $205 for senators - and must keep track of all expenditures with elections commissioner Joe Rodgers.
UAPD Sgt. Rolf Averill said yesterday he hadn't seen any police reports for thefts of campaign materials. Averill said UAPD officers could arrest anyone caught taking banners.
"It's usually in the officer's discetion to make an arrest or not," he said.
UA facilities management officials said they took down one banner over the weekend belonging to ASUA but not a particular candidate. The sign was hanging between the palm trees behind the main stage on the UA Mall and had to go to make way for a new event.
ASUA President Ben Graff yesterday encouraged the candidates to take down their banners each night and put them back up the next morning.
Banners are typically made from white bed sheets and can be no larger than a twin size. Candidates can hang banners anywhere in town - last year a candidate had a banner at Los Betos, a popular late-night eatery - as long as they receive permission from the establishment and Rodgers.
Campus fraternities and sorority houses, along with residence halls, can display banners from two senator candidates and one candidate from the three executive positions.
"Every year, fliers, posters and banners get pulled down," Rodgers said. "It's been disappointing.
"It was done over the weekend, so I don't think they lost too much exposure."
Williams, however, stressed these last few days as crucial before Wednesday's general election begins.
"I think the banners are very effective," she said. "It's a name recognition thing. If students remember your name, then they more likely they are to vote for you."
Calvert, a molecular and cellular biology and political science freshman, didn't feel she was a target, even though the banners were found in her dorm.
"I was a little creeped out," she said. "I didn't think we should touch them."
As of last night, most of the signs were replaced with new ones. However, there was still no confession or evidence as to how the bundle of stolen signs showed up.
"I can't tell if it's just fun and games in general," Quintero said. "Or these people just hate elections."
