This month, the Clear Party posted controversial fliers as part of the Columbia College Student Council elections. The poster was based on racist and sexist stereotypes, and made many students very uncomfortable. The CCSC Elections Board should enforce their regulations better in future elections, and the Clear Party should offer an immediate apology to the Columbia community.
The Clear Party, as part of this year’s CCSC elections, put up posters around campus that read, “Two asian girls at the same time.” The poster was a reference to the party’s two female Asian candidates who ran for vice president and representative. According to the CCSC Elections Board rules and regulations, campaigns are prohibited from including any discriminatory, obscene, sexually suggestive, or offensive content. To enforce the regulations, parties must clear all posters and palm cards with the board before distribution. Although the board has the ability to block materials, it decided to approve the Clear Party’s flier. The Clear Party won the election, but it has yet to offer a formal apology.
The CCSC Elections Board must enforce its own rules in future elections. Although students can submit allegations of rule violations online, the board should not rely on students to report infractions after the fact. Offensive posters should not be cleared for distribution in the future, and the board should ensure that all its members are aware of its policies on inappropriate content. The Clear Party’s decision to create and post the fliers is disturbing, considering the leadership experience of some of its members in the school’s multicultural clubs. Rather than discussing how the party planned to solve Columbia’s most pressing problems, it chose to offer shock value for the sake of publicity. Even if intended as harmless, the poster raises serious questions about the party’s judgment—a flier that can be seen across campus is not the appropriate place for a crude joke. Campaign materials are supposed to present a party in its best light. The Clear Party should make sure that its time in office does not reflect such poor decision-making.
Racist and sexist campaign materials are not only offensive, they also sensationalize campaigns. The Clear Party should offer an apology for what it did this past election, and the CCSC Elections Board should enforce rules on inappropriate content so that future elections can reflect the high standards Columbia students expect.
Jia Ahmad recused herself from the writing of this editorial.
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