Dr. Lombardi,

In order to increase awareness of students on the days of elections March
21 and 22 in an attempt to dramatically increase the number of students
voting in Student Government elections, the Independent Student Coalition
is going to put on an event called Get The Vote Out on the days of the
elections.  We believe that this is an important function, one that is
vital to the democratic process, and since Student Government will not
take on this responsibility itself we have decided that we will do it at
our expense.  To do this we are going to have to commit a number of man
hours and out of pocket expenses that could otherwise go to campaigning
for candidates but we believe that this enterprise is more than worth the
expense. 

In order to do this we are going to need some assistance from your office. 
We need to know all of the rules and regulations regarding the things that
we are proposing and we need to have the assistance of your office in
getting the necessary University approval.  We also anticipate that
Student Government may attempt to prevent us from doing these activities. 
Therefore we want to make sure that everything we do has the proper
University documentation. 

What are we proposing to do?  Elections will be held on two days from 8 AM
till 8 PM.  We are planning on placing ads in the Alligator announcing
this.  Additionally, outside of the polling locations Student Government
fails to advertise and make visible the existence of the polling site.  We
therefore would like to provide banners which say something like “VOTE
HERE TODAY” and have them hanging outside the appropriate buildings.  This
is something that we need your help with.  We need to get the appropriate
permission and documentation to hang banners on these buildings.  We can
provide a list of locations as soon as it is finalized, but we know that
they will include Turlington, the Reitz Union, possibly the University
Auditorium and/or the SW Rec Center, the Fine Arts building, and Weil
Hall.  We would also like to get a banner or two at visible locations on
campus simply announcing Get Out the Vote and the existence of the
elections on the days preceding the election.  This would also require the
appropriate permission. 

We are hoping to provide food for students who have voted.  For this we
are looking into several options of getting food donated and/or purchased
so that we can provide a further incentive for students to vote.  We are
considering a main location to be established on the Reitz Union lawn. 
This will be the center of most activities and will include some of our
food related events.  Other locations we are considering having
sub-locations are the Turlington Courtyard, the Plaza of the Americas, the
Sun Terrace at the Communicore, the area outside of Weil Hall, and the Law
School Courtyard.  We are considering having food at some or all of these
areas.  For this aspect we also need your assistance.  We need to know
what our options are.  What can and can we not do regarding donated and/or
purchased food that will be given away for free in these areas?  What
permission and documentation will we need?  Who do we need to talk to for
this? 

We also would like to have music and speakers throughout the days.  We
believe these events can do two things.  The music will assist in getting
students to pay attention.  The speakers will help to inform students of
the issues and who the candidates are who are running for office.  The two
locations we would like to do these things at are the Union Lawn and at
the Plaza of the Americas.  We would like to get the proper permission to
do this.  Additonally we would like to know if there is any equiptment
(stages, microphones, P.A.s, etc.) that the University could provide us

We will also require tables at all of these locations.  The tables will be
used for two things.  The first will be Get Out the Vote literature
distribution and information booths regarding where and when to vote, etc. 
The second will be to incorporate a Voter Registration Drive that ties
together the responsibilities of citizenship within the Student Body with
the responsibilities of citizenship at the local, state, and national
levels.  We could use your office’s help in acquiring these tables. 

We also would like to know what the policies regarding amplified sound on
campus are.  We are concidering going to some of the more remote locations
with a low volume bull-horn in order to announce the elections.  Will we
be allowed to do this? 

We are also planning on placing flyers on the numerous bulletin boards
around campus calling for students to vote and displaying polling
locations.  We would like to get official permission to do this.