by Justin Boulmay
Staff Writer
The 2004 Student Government Association presidential elections saw
almost 4,000 student votes, but none of the candidates won.
None of the four tickets claimed the majority vote needed to declare
a winner, off-campus Senator Howard S. Schreiber said. A run-off
election will be held between the two tickets that received the
most votes, Christopher R. Pereira said.
“Grassroots” ticket Miriam N. Makhyoun and Nicholas
V. Albu received 36 percent of the vote. Candidates Matthew D. Whisenant
and Justin W. Moore came in second, grabbing 23 percent of the student
vote.
Jason C. Gardner and Callie J. Hargett also received 23 percent,
putting them behind Whisenant and Moore by only 11 votes. Jonathan
D. Kappler and Emily L. McDermott received 16 percent.
“Each ticket is going to have an additional $150 [to campaign
with],” Pereira said. The run-off begins midnight on Sunday.
All election bylaws still apply. Students will still be able to
vote through AppalNET, and the winning ticket will be announced
Thursday.
Approximately 4,000 students, or roughly 30 percent of the undergraduate
population, cast their votes, Pereira said.
Only 2,289 students voted in last year’s election, which culminated
in candidates Rachel A. Johnson and Lauren N. Linville defeating
Patrick G. Cash and H. Dustin Bayard.
Makhyoun said the means by which tickets campaigned accounted for
the turnout.
“There were a lot of venues that were sought out this year
that had not been tried before,” she said.
“I think Miriam and I were both very pleased with the results,”
Albu said. “We’re extremely pleased with the Renewable
Energy Initiative, which passed with 81 percent of the vote.”
The initiative requires a $5 increase in student fees. The funds
will be used to bring more-environmental friendly technology to
campus and reduce the university’s need for fossil fuels.
While the election did not yet determine who will be the next president
and vice president, it did have an impact on current members of
SGA.
Two members of SGA, Dorothy M. Andrews and Senator Alan M. Teitleman
resigned their positions.
Andrews resigned her position as chair of the Rules Committee and
Elections Committee.
Andrews was not available for comment, but Pereira, who replaced
her as rules chair, said controversy over the Whisenant-Moore suspension
was a factor in her decision.
“It’s really upsetting she’s not here anymore,”
Schreiber said. “To me, she was my inspiration. When I came
in, she was on top of her game.”
Vice President Linville replaced Andrews as chair of the Elections
Committee.
Teitleman was not available for comment before press time.
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