Independent candidates vary in their estimation of the importance of the student vote. Incumbent William H. Walsh sends campaign literature to registered students, but doesn't campaign in person on campus. According to Walsh, the student vote isn't terribly significant.
"I've not been able to identify a single candidate who relied on the student vote to get elected," he said.
In addition, Walsh said he believes it is extremely difficult to formulate an effective campaign strategy for targeting the undergraduate population.
"To campaign for students, first you have to identify who'll vote. Next you have to separate the liberals from the moderates, since the independent candidates appeal to more moderate voters."
According to Walsh, the difficulties mount when one considers that Cambridge has approximately 50,000 registered voters, about 23,000 of whom will vote. Walsh estimates that 400 to 600 students vote in city elections, and that no more than half of them would consider a more conservative candidate.
Walsh concluded that heavy student campaigning is impractical for most independent candidates. "We have to run city-wide, and students are not as accessible as other constituents," he said.
Another problem is the commonly-held view that the students vote overwhelmingly for the CCA anyway. Walsh said, "I'm under the impression that the majority of the student vote goes to the CCA. As a rule, the CCA has candidates who are graduates of Harvard, have connections there, and are able to appeal more directly to students."
Independent candidate R. Elaine Noble, however, disagrees with the idea that students are deaf to non-CCA candidates' campaigns. Noble, who stresses sexual minority issues in her campaign, tabled at Harvard and MIT to register students to vote.
"I'm specifically interested in gay students and apprising them of their ability to vote. I need their help," Noble said. According to her estimates, the registration efforts brought in about 700 new student voters.
Noble, who favors banning ROTC from University campuses, said she will do "visiblity campaigning" on campuses, but doesn't plan to visit students in person. She said she is confident she can attract student votes with her record on affirmative action, desegregation and gays' and women's rights.
Impressed with Duehay
For most student voters contacted, however, liberal views will mean a vote for the CCA candidates who have been most visibly campaigning on campus.
Zofia A. Nowakowski '93, who was visited by Duehay last week, was impressed with his defense of rent control.
"He was excellent, and resolved a lot of questions for me," she said. Nowakowski said she didn't plan at the time of the interview to vote for any non-CCA candidates.
July P. Belber '92 said she was concerned about low-cost housing and irresponsible university expansion. "The guy who strikes me as most reasonable is Ken Reeves," she said, citing Reeves's commitment to education and recycling programs.
Rhoda A. Kanaaneh '92 said she was impressed with Ken Reeves, saying he seemed a "pretty progressive liberal." Kanaaneh said she also liked Alice Wolf's support of women's rights and social programs.
It's Up to the Weather
All is speculation, however, until election day, and the weather tomorrow might have a larger impact on student turnout than any of the issues. According to Reeves, student votes are notoriously contingent on meteorological conditions.
"Rain and student votes are historically a bad combination," he said.