by Martha I. Fernandez
Managing Editor
After an election with high participation, the Associated Student Federation (ASF) Forum has added two new members, but has left two Forum member and the freshmen representative positions vacant.
Stacy Lucas, junior transfer student, was elected to be this year’s transfer representative, while junior Christina Hernandez was chosen to fill one of the three Forum member openings.
Five students ran to be Forum members and five people campaigned for the freshmen representative position, however only one candidate was elected due to a bylaw in the Vote Requirements Division of the ASF Constitution.
The bylaw states that a simple majority vote, half of the ballots cast plus one, must be reached for a candidate to be instated into the position.
At this general election, 222 ballots were cast. Therefore, a candidate must have received 112 votes to win the race.
“It was not low vote totals at all. Everyone received pretty good numbers, it was just that there were so many people running that the votes got split up,” said Chris Braunstein, ASF president.
Due to the results of the general election, ASF is looking into changing the bylaw to prevent a situation like this to happen in the future.
“My personal belief is that if there is less people than positions open, the rule would work,” said Braunstein. “But, in a case where you have three positions and five or six people running it doesn’t make sense. The top votes should get the position.”
Students who ran to be a member of ASF and did not win the position received letters Wednesday explaining the results of the election.
“It’s just so hard to explain to students, who want to be a part of it, and tell them all of you ran but none of you won,” he said.
Among those campaigning to be a Forum member was sophomore Veronica Mendez. “I didn’t feel bad because I still have another chance to run,” she said. “It was no big deal I was just doing it for the fun of it.”
Now, the Forum is once again accepting applications for Forum member and freshmen representative that will be due by Wednesday. However, the procedure of elections is still in question.
ASF ‘s Constitution states that a special election amongst the Forum members, may be held if the general election fails to fill vacancies.
With a special election, ASF will be responsible for appointing new members. Candidates will have to be interviewed by the entire Forum or by the elections committee.
The elections committee is lead by the ASF vice-president and includes three Forum members, an adviser and sophomore Heidi Draayer, a student at large. However, a two-thirds vote from the entire Forum is needed to confirm any appointment.
“I think it will go to special elections more than likely simply because of time constraints.
“We can’t keep waiting because right now, everyone with Homecoming, is stretching themselves,” said Braunstein.
