The Cult

Living on campus is a special time in many people’s lives. Freshmen often find their first friends, memories, and even relationships in the confines of the residence halls. While all of the residence halls at UNI are special in their own way, one seems more engaged in campus life than all the rest: Campbell Hall.

There is a reason many people, including several residents themselves, refer to the occupants of Campbell Hall as “the Campbell Cult." In terms of pride, enthusiasm, and support for the hall and its members, the Cult dwarfs all of the other residence halls combined. However, the Cult reaches much further than the building itself. Over the years, the Cult has established itself around campus and in many major student organizations. Groups like CATS and SAA are filled with Cult members. The current executive editor for the Northern Iowan was a Cult member, too. Most noteworthy, the Interlude Dance gained its initial popularity on the fourth floor of Campbell Hall.

The Cult makes its most tangible impact in NISG. This year’s student body president and vice president, Spencer and Ian, were RAs in Campbell during the time of their election. In addition, their core campaign team featured a large majority of Cult members. It’s no surprise that the Cult votes in NISG elections more than any other residence hall. Last year, 300 of its residents voted in the general election. The next closest residence hall had barely half of that total. Spencer and Ian created around 250 votes of separation from Cult votes alone. This voting disparity has even caused one former student body president to call the residents of Campbell “kingmakers."

Spencer and Ian aren’t the first Cult members to win elections, though. The Cult has won three of the last four NISG presidential elections, with the exception coming from an uncontested race. In 2008, when Cezar-Lobdell took down the team of sitting vice president and director of administration, Bentley-Doudna, they ushered in a new era of NISG elections. They revealed the power of a Campbell Hall voting bloc on the path to the office of NISG president. It’s also worth noting that the Cult’s impact on NISG isn’t just limited to presidential elections. Campbell Hall is also host to one of the only senatorial recall elections in the past decade.

So what does all of this mean? The Cult takes NISG seriously and the voting bloc it usually creates has impacted several elections. Although they represent just a fraction of the student body, the Cult has contributed significantly to NISG in the past and shows no signs of slowing down. Maybe 50 Cent was right when he said, “Hate it or love it, the underdog’s on top."

Campbell Hall may prove to be an important factor again this year, though its exact role is not yet evident. Perhaps membership in the Cult forms a stronger bond than even family ties; both Trevor and Beth Monnier reside in Campbell Hall. Although Jordan and KaLeigh are Cult members in their own right, their campaign team focuses on their NISG connections. Not surprisingly, Trevor and Beth have turned to their fellow Cult members to run their campaign. Just like Spencer and Ian in 2011, the large majority of their immediate campaign team is made up of Cult members. While it’s going to take more than the 300 expected Cult votes to take this election, Campbell Hall's support has worked in the past, and it may work again this year.