Last Friday, the results for the 2010 Associated Students election were announced at the University Center, not to a crowded room of beaming candidates and fervent supporters, but to a handful of AS Elections Commissioners and one Lumberjack reporter.
Neither of the top candidates who ran for President or Student Affairs Vice President received a majority vote (50% plus one vote). As a result, Associated Students will hold a run-off election this week on April 28 and 29.
The presidential candidates are Victor Reuther and Iban Rodriguez. The candidates for vice president are Kristy Eden and Aaron Guerrero.
Despite the absence of other students at the University Center last Friday, members of AS believe the results were worth noting.
AS elections commissioner Rina Ferrario said the turnout was much higher this year than in previous elections. “This year, 1,045 people voted in the election,” said Ferrario. “I think the turnout was probably higher because of the different candidates.”
Last year, AS President Brandon Chapin ran without any competition, and fewer than 300 students voted in the election. There are more than 7,700 students enrolled at HSU. This means that only 13 percent of students (1,045) voted in the election this year.
In the run-off, students will also vote for two open positions in the College of Professional Studies.
Only one person, Cortland Johnson, ran for this position, which requires three students. Associated Students will rely on voters to write in their choices for the position.
The run-off elections will take place on the AS Web site: http://www.humboldt.edu/~hsuas/.
Junior John Kimsey did not vote in the elections this year. “The elections did not seem relevant,” said Kimsey. “AS doesn’t seem to do anything, and there are so many things at stake that we don’t have a say in.”
Of the proposals for fee increases in last week’s election, only the initiative to increase the mandatory student health fee passed. The initiative passed by a four-vote margin. Starting in fall 2010, students will pay $45 more to fund Counseling and Psychological Services. This brings the student health fee to $192 per semester.
A proposal to ban all forms of smoking on campus, one of the more controversial issues, did not pass. However, students voted for stronger enforcement of smoking areas and the improvement of smoke-free zones.
With no mention of increased fines or supervision, what this means for smokers remains unclear. University Police Chief Tom Dewey said that UPD has yet to receive any direction from the administration or collaborative insights from AS to change current policy.
“Right now, the intent of university policy is to have community members gently discourage smokers if they are not smoking in the right areas,” said Dewey. “What I think the poll does, rather than creating new policy, is reflect that people might not be comfortable with that.”
Those who are interested should remember to vote in the upcoming run-off elections this Wednesday and Thursday.
AS 2010-2011 Election Results- Winners:
Administrative Vice President: Stephanie Partlow (779)
College of Natural Resources Representatives:
Natalie Guest (97) Ana Parra (84) Pamela Ward (89)
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences:
Scott Meyers (149) Colby Grand (123) Amber Okeh (139)
All University Representative: Sidonie Harper-McPike (64)
At Large Representative: Rachel Brownell (645)
UC Board of Directors:
Melanie Barnett (516) Jennifer Mahoney (XXX)
2010 Ballot Initiatives
Smoking on Campus
1. Should smoking be banned on campus?
YES: 347 40.2 %
NO: 517 59.8 %
2. Should smoking areas be improved and enforced?
YES: 592 59.8 %
NO: 280 40.2 %
Student Health Center Fee: $45 increase to fund Counseling and Psychological Services
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