The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I realize that cliches are taboo in journalistic circles, but sometimes these phrases express exactly what happened so well that not to use them would be a crime.

Yes, with the election fervor subsiding and the political jockeying all but over, it once again is time to listen to all of the reasons why the candidates ran a good, hard campaign but unfortunately fell short.

Tim Evans, the defeated Chicago mayoral candidate who attempted to take over that office under the blue and white flag of the Harold Washington Party, has evaluated his loss as all politicians do. Evans’ staff members have said their failure in reproducing the “street heat,” which was so pivotal in Washington’s success, was a major factor in Evans’ downfall. The campaign staff has also concluded that the rift in the black community caused between Evans and interim mayor Eugene Sawyer didn’t do either candidate much good.

The more vociferous Sawyer has blamed his primary defeat at the hands of mayor-elect Richard Daley on the black community. Sawyer said the forces within the black community pressed for a special election to complete the late Harold Washington’s term in office and ultimately pressed him, and the black community, right out of the office door.

In effect, pressing for the special election gave opponents the right time to move and the right circumstances to do it in.

Eddie Vrdolyak, the now-you-see-me-Democrat now-you-see-me-Republican, was simply crushed in his latest attempt for mayor. Vrdolyak blamed, among others, fellow Republican Governor James Thompson and 95 percent of Chicago voters who, he claimed, voted on race instead of issues. Vrdolyak also blamed the media for his loss.

The similarities between Chicago defeat blames and Student Association defeat blames, you ask? Well, my inspired and curious readers, you already know them.

Phill Buoscio, the defeated SA presidential hopeful said he does not consider his recent defeat as a defeat because of the opposition he faced. Huda Scheidelman, the victor, beat “the only greek candidate” with the help of stereotyping and bias by this very newspaper.

I am impressed with the credit Buoscio attributes to the place where I spend most of my time as a partial reason for his defeat. You see, I like politics. And like most people, I enjoy getting attention for myself or an organization that I am affilliated with, whether I understand it or not.

Buoscio, a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, printed two sets of the same campaign literature. And although he ran as a candidate for all students, one set denoted him as the “only greek candidate.” Not a smart move in the NIU political arena.

But (in every political anything there is ultimately a but) Buoscio said he did not know the content of the literature prior to its distribution. And although he said he takes responsibility for the literature, he hoped it did not deter voters from X-ing his name.

Well Phill, it did.

People called the paper to inform us newshounds of this unique campaign style and also said that they were offended by it. Not a someone, not a person, not an individual, but people—plural, as in more than one, usually considered as many—called our hallowed walls to tell someone what was going on.

But Phill said he takes responsibility for the literature, even though he did not know of its content.

Silly me, but if I was a candidate running for political office and was resting on the public opinion of the NIU greek system and the problems that Sigma Chi has had in the past, I think that I would know the content of my campaign literature. I think I would sensitize my campaign staff about the billing of my political qualities before literature distribution at the very least.

I guess that’s why I’m here instead of in the SA.