Upstaged

“Owl Potential”, the only slate running in this year’s student government elections, was literally upstaged by the Temple University Anime Club in the slate’s first scheduled open forum April 4.

The slate, which comprises Vice President of Student Affairs Juan Galeano, Allocations Chair Eric Stephenson and Alumni Affairs Chair Nadine Mompremier, was scheduled to speak to students about its plans for office at noon Wednesday in the Student Center Atrium.

But there was a slight problem.

The Temple University Anime Club was also scheduled to host a program in the same space at the same time.

TSG elections commissioner Seth Embry said he made reservations for the space, and those reservations were processed and approved by the Office of Student Activities under the Student Center Operations.

Embry said there might have been an oversight in the Office, which led to a double booking.

In this case, however, the Temple University Anime Club received preference for use of the space because the organization applied for the space first.

“It’s tough because you want to be able to have as many opportunities to talk to students as possible,” Galeano said in reaction to the scheduling mishap.

“When things don’t work out it’s frustrating, obviously. But at the same time we still have to do the outreach. We just won’t be able to do it today, but we’ll still seek out input,” Galeano said.

When contacted, Jason Levy, director of the Student Center, declined to comment on the matter.

With the first day of election approaching April 10, Embry said it would be tough to reschedule the open forum for a later date.

“But we’re going to try,” he added.

The next open forum is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 4 p.m. in Walk Auditorium, Ritter Hall during General Assembly.

Sam Benesby can be reached at sam.benesby@temple.edu.