By Mary Brandenberger
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 10, 1998

Exhaustion and redemption on the campaign trail

After three weeks and 18 and a half hours, I can say many things. My days were consumed with organizing, plotting and planning. My nights were spent sharing my views with students across campus, leaving few areas uncovered. I gave campaign speeches in my sleep, which usually amounted to about three or four hours a night. I missed classes, jeopardized relationships, ate and exercised very little.

So, what do I have to say three weeks later? I lost. That is the reality. But there is more to it. Although I fell 705 votes short of being named the 1998-99 Associated Students Executive Vice President, what I gained is much greater than a year in office, a $3,500 stipend and a spot on a plaque.

Imagine putting your life on hold. You attend class when you can, see friends less and fall behind in your efforts at work. Your friends distance themselves, your family hardly recognizes you and your love life is put on hold. Now think about why you would be doing this. You realize that you have something to say. Your ideas, beliefs and measures of experience need to be heard. You know you are the best person to carry out what you so strongly believe in. You become obsessed with the idea that you have the opportunity to make a difference in the quality of life for your peers. Some will support you, others will chastise you. Some will even flagrantly underrepresent you and vehemently support your opponent. You will be misquoted, misrepresented and misunderstood. But that is only the beginning. Friends you thought you had pushed aside will go to bat for you. People you have never met will speak on your behalf. Your endless nights of minimal sleep will be passed on to those carrying you on your mission. And the real reward - these people are there because they believe in your ideas, your vision and, most importantly, they believe in you.

So, three weeks and 18 and a half hours later, what can be said? I have learned more about myself in these few, short weeks than many do in a lifetime. I saw what I wanted, and I went after it. And 1,128 students came along for the ride. If my "loss" means that I shared what I stand for with more than 1,000 others, I can hardly call my journey a failure. I put my life on hold for almost a month, but came out smiling.

When the election results were announced, I was surrounded by friends and supporters. They were there - for me. With friends on all sides, I was ready for the verdict. When Cisco Aguilar was named the new Executive Vice President, my heart skipped a beat. But I had not lost. Following my first instinct, I fought my way through the crowd to congratulate my opponent. Giving him a hug, I was honestly proud of what he had accomplished, despite my own defeat. I had only to turn around to be bombarded by a flock of hugs and condolences by just about everyone and their mother in Gentle Ben's (I can say "everyone and their mother" because Tara Taylor's mother was one of the first to embrace me). Gilbert Davidson, the current Student Body President, and Tara Taylor, the next, both told me they were proud of me. Good to know.

After weeks of endless pursuit and questionable elections coverage, I must say that the last thing the Arizona Daily Wildcat attributed to me was accurate, very accurate. To recount what was said, I must give the Wildcat credit: "It was a good fight. It was the last thing I had to do and I gave it all I had."

When I look back at my college days, the many clubs and organizations I was a part of will not be the first thing that comes to mind. Rather, it will be my campaigning "failure," which was all but that.

Mary Brandenberger is a junior majoring in journalism and English . She is currently chief of staff for the ASUA Executive Vice President.