How are the Candidates Chosen?

What influences students to vote on the people you do?

by Michaela Diercks

October 07, 2009

Does anyone really know what characteristics our homecoming candidates are supposed to portray? I dug for answers from students, teachers and school workers to answer my question. “Why did you vote for who you did?,” I asked.

Common answers from previous years’ students answered, “They deserved it,” “They aren’t stuck-up,” “They’re my friends,” and “They’re excellent role models.”

Newcomers also had opinions, “The people I voted for are the ones who are nice to me in the halls and the people that I know best.”

“They’re ‘the man',” said sophomore Josh Mesecher.

“They deserve it,” said junior Emma Giles. “Hardcore!,” adds junior Holly Gehrke.

I also talked to Ms. Beikmann, the school counselor who is in charge of tallying votes and is in charge of homecoming. She told me that students should vote on someone who is “involved” and “not partial and willing to expand.” She also said that they shouldn’t be “cliquey.”

I also asked Ms. Beikmann what she thought students voted on. “Popularity plays a part—but everyone has their own definition of ‘popular',” said Beikmann.