Astonish us again, Pedro

When we heard about the five original tickets for IUSA, Kirkwood and Connect stood out as serious contenders, and we found it hard to take the other three, College, Vote for Pedro and What about Bobby? seriously. If Kirkwood, the greek-backed ticket were to lose, Connect was the obvious challenger. \nKirkwood banners appeared on greek houses overnight and the ticket had catchy "Got wood?" T-shirts that got attention. They had high-profile candidates, including the governor's daughter and two men's basketball players. \nIn the week before the election, something odd happened. Suddenly a bunch of greek houses sported two competing banners, green for Kirkwood and red for Vote for Pedro. Who could tell which ticket a given house would support? Pedro's Web site captured the campaign's dark-horse position: www.canpedrowin.com.\nWe were thoroughly skeptical, not only of Pedro's chances but of its sincerity, considering the ticket's name and campaign were based on the movie "Napoleon Dynamite." Who did these guys think they were kidding with their cute stunt? At least Pedro didn't hide the comic nature of student body elections. Sure, we all could get a laugh from reenactments of scenes from the movie, but it appeared to deviate too far from the norm. Maybe a playful attitude won't be a horrific fate for student voices.\nWe hope that Pedro finds an effective, working balance of swinging and sweating to get students what they want. IUSA, led by Pedro's executive slate, should discharge its duty to advocate for students in a manner in which the administration can take them seriously. Free-speech zones, a central volunteer coordinator and ensuring solid advising should be the first three priorities on the platform, above free T-shirts, iPods and drinking.\nThe new executives must focus on issues where they can have an impact. IUSA has goals that deserve attention more than trying to soften the inconveniences of law for those who choose to ignore alcohol regulations, no matter how high a percentage of campus breaks the law. Improving students' odds against the police busting them for drinking may help some people forget more of their weekends but would accomplish little else. \nAfter the election, it shouldn't seem shocking that Pedro's jesters took the mantle of students' representatives from the acknowledged front-runners. Pedro proclaimed they were not the typical IUSA candidates primarily motivated to cushion their résumés. You've told us; now show us the goods. Demonstrate that Pedro's executives are not satisfied with "making progress" on student issues, but that they will work until change actually happens. \nMaybe a slate of leaders that injects some popular humor into hard work is just what IUSA needs. The antics may yet yield a highly effective administration. Seriously.