In an unprecedented turn out, 62 percent of the first-year class voted in Tuesday’s primary election for Georgetown University Student Association first-year representatives.
The field was narrowed from 17 candidates to eight preliminary winners, who will be on the ballot in the final election Thursday.
The winners were Philip Beer (SFS ‘05), Sean Fern (SFS ‘05), Nazareth Haysbert (CAS ‘05), Ellen Herzog (NUR ‘05), Brian Morgenstern (CAS ‘05), Luis Torres (CAS ‘05), Chris Wong (CAS ‘05), and Tommy Wu (NUR ‘05).
The turnout was 10 percent higher than last year’s 52 percent.
“It was an impressive turnout … The increased participation is a sign of GUSA’s strength this year,” GUSA Vice President Brian Walsh (CAS ‘02) said.
Most candidates were pleased with the turnout. Torres and Fern credited the online voting system, Saxa Server, with making voting easier for students.
“Voting online was easier than going somewhere to vote, so voter turn out increased,” Fern said.
Saxa Server sent all eligible students an e-mail reminding them to vote between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday. Students also received an e-mail with a 100 word platform statement from each of the candidates.
However, one candidate was not happy with the online voting system.
“I was disappointed that people received the candidates’ 100 word statements after they received the e-mail reminding them to vote. It turned the election into a competition of who had the best signs, not who had the best platform,” Herzog said.
There were no technological problems with Saxa Server this year. In the past, the server has malfunctioned and even shut down for up to an hour at a time.
“There were no reported glitches. The only problems occurred when people wrote the same name in both the write-in spaces. Every year it gets better; we will definitely continue to use it,” Rivers said.
Fern, Herzog and Torres all credit hard work as the reason for their victories.
“We were really organized. We divided into groups to knock on doors and hang fliers,” Torres said.
The winners continued to campaign through Wednesday.
“I’m going to continue to work hard, and make myself visible. I want to convince the 48 percent that didn’t vote to come out and vote,” Fern said.
The candidates participated in a debate at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night in Sellinger Lounge. The debate centered on the candidates’ platform issues and the methods they will use to actualize them.
Wu, Wong and Torres all emphasized the need for class unity.
“When we are united as a class, we can all enjoy college life,” Wu said.
Fern and Herzog stressed the need for awareness on campus and in the community. Fern proposed an online club update to make students more aware of happenings on campus, while Herzog suggested online syllabi to increase awareness about courses.
Beer said he would focus on increasing teacher accountability, while Morgenstern stated he would work for practicality and making things happen.
All the candidates agreed that maintaining a good relationship with the administration is important.
The final election will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday. There will be an informal ceremony to announce the results at 11:00 p.m. in Sellinger Lounge.
