What began as a seemingly normal SGA presidential election rendered controversial results, more reminiscent of the 2001 Bush-Gore election debacle than any Loyola election of the past.

Elliot Sanchez won the popular vote, but his questionable campaign tactics put him under the scrutiny of opponent André Breaux and eventually the SGA Court of Review, who ultimately decided to disqualify Sanchez.

Of course, Breaux was justified in airing his problems with the Sanchez campaign. The Sanchez team in action- with its fire-breathers, guitar players and bikini-clad girls-resembled more of a circus than a presidential campaign. But should tactics that were obnoxious at the very least have merited disqualification, originally putting the candidate students did not elect in office?

Unless there were serious ethical problems with his campaign, Sanchez should not have been disqualified. Theatrical displays in the Peace Quad, while undoubtedly campy, were not offensive to students or Breaux. If the ethics of anyone’s campaign materials should be questioned, it is Breaux’s, whose “Mythbusters” handbills were a direct attack against his opponent.

The claim that Sanchez campaigners wearing bikinis – exposing midriffs bearing the Sanchez campaign logo – “objectified” women, is also an unfounded reason for disqualification. The women wore bikinis on their own volition, not because Sanchez forced them to wear them.

Also, if this display really had misogynistic implications, why didn’t the Women’s Issues Organization step forward and complain?

Sanchez being held accountable for violating sanctions that prohibited him from campaigning was also unfair. The candidate did not necessarily place the handbills in the Danna Center, nor could he have controlled his supporter’s choice to wear an Elliot Sanchez T-shirt.

André Breaux is commendable for conducting his campaign in a decent manner, using old-fashioned tactics as opposed to flashy theatrics. Breaux, because of his experience on SGA, would undoubtedly serve as a fine student leader. However, the student population did not choose him as their leader, and he will not serve as such. And that’s just the way it should be.