With polls opening in less than a week, the Government of the Student Body executive slates are taking their own unique approaches to campaigning in order to win the votes of students.

GSB Election Commissioner Sam Umbach said last year’s commissioner defined active and passive campaigning.

Active campaigning includes items such as posters, e-mails, flyers and sidewalk chalking. It is concrete, and there is evidence the campaigning has taken place. Active campaigning is not allowed within the GSB office.

Passive campaigning includes wearing materials and talking about issues. This type of campaigning is not as permanent, Umbach said.

Umbach said he has seen more passive campaigning than active during this election. Passive campaigning allows candidates and students to get to know one another, he said.

All campaign materials must be stamped, or receive a seal of approval from Umbach. The stamping serves several purposes. It reduces the amount of abusive and inappropriate campaigning, helps to make candidates responsible for the material presented to the student body and also helps the election commission verify the campaign spending, he said.

Executive slates are restricted to a spending amount of $1,000. Candidates may raise funds to finance their budget, but a slate is not allowed to receive money from a group or organization which is funded through GSB. GSB will refund half of what candidates spend on their campaign after the elections are complete, Umbach said.

“The reality is candidates raise their own funds,” he said.

Mike Banasiak and Ben Albright have made posters, buttons, stickers, flyers, table tents and handouts, but the main component of the campaign is communication, said Banasiak, presidential candidate.

The candidates have chosen not to run on a slogan because “it might distort what we are as leaders and people.”

“Students understand the issues and seem excited about the issues,” Banasiak said.

Shawn Faurote, candidate for president, said he and Vicky Lio, vice-presidential candidate, have spent money on posters, buttons and T-shirts for the slate, but most of their campaigning has been talking to students and organizations, Faurote said.

Lio spoke to students outside Parks Library Friday.

“Students have been receptive and excited about the campaign to ‘put students first’,” Faurote said.

Matt Denner and Jonathan Mullin have each met dozens of new students each day, said Denner, presidential candidate. The candidates hope to talk with as many groups as possible and ensure their platform “to take the power back” is in line with students’ values, he said.

“Our campaign will be more effective if we communicate effectively,” Denner said.

In addition to flyers, signboards and a personal Web site (www.takethepowerback.us), Denner and Mullin are compiling a CD with tracks from local bands in an effort to show an interest in providing entertainment for students under 21, he said. “Whether or not we win the campaign, the students who receive the CD will have something to take with them,” Denner said.