I helped make the pins for the Dewberry-Butler campaign for Student Body President and Student Body Vice President. Taquan and Ava are my friends, and I was happy to press the pins for them. One of the alleged reasons for their disqualification is based on confusion about whether their campaign pins should be valued as free or $375. For context, going over budget results in immediate disqualification.

Taquan asked me to help make the pins since I had button-making experience from my business. To provide the pins for free, I used the Maker Space’s free resources to press the buttons (I highly recommend checking the Maker Space out!). The button maker and all supplies are available to all NC State students for free.

I did not think it made sense to charge them for the pins since I did not need to purchase any of the supplies. All students are able to use the free supplies in the maker space for their hobbies and student organizations. When I sell products, I purchase my own supplies, including machines, software, and higher-quality buttons, which are factored into my prices.

Before the ruling, Taquan was assured by the Chair of the Board of Elections that the pins I made in the Maker Space would be valued as free, as by fair-market prices for any NC State Student, any student could have made the same pins for free.

I do not know how campaign regulations work, and I do not have any control over how campaigns report their expenses on their campaign finance sheet. They budgeted $3.75 to cover the cost of printing paper for the pins. 75 pins use between 7-8 sheets of paper, which cost $0.50 each on campus. Since it only cost $3.50 to make all 75 pins, I did not think it made sense to value them at $5 per pin. I was making these pins for my friend, and did not see any reason to financially profit from this.

I hope this clears up any confusion about why my pins are mentioned in their disqualification. If the pins were valued at $375, they would have gone over budget, which results in immediate disqualification. I fully support them in their decision to appeal.

I love making graphic designs, and I am so thankful for the love and support I have received since starting this business. I had nothing but good intentions, and I simply wanted to help support my friends.