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Show VOLUME 53, ISSUE 74 Monday, April 26, 1993 Jamie Martin comments fj8S- on NFL draft See the Signpost sports section WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY OGDEN, UTAH SThe IGNPOST : H r " - - Friday marked the last day for students to cast ballots for student body elections. Less than 1 0 percent of WSU students voted for the candidates vying for the 19 student government offices. Election plagued by protests, low voter turnout By MARK FORSBERG Signpost news editor This year's student elections offered a unique variety of candidates, but were still marked by low voter turnout, problems with the bylaws and numerous complaints to the elections committee.Biff Whiting and Pat Murphy emerged into the elections spotlight with unique campaigns and promises for a move away from the status quo. In spite of Whiting and Murphy, the voting turnout was about 1,250 students, about 8 percent of the student body, a drop from last year's 10 percent. Three of the 19 student offices were not filed for. Thirteen of the remaining offices were uncontested, including student body president. Although two of the unfiled offices were filled by write-in Candida tes, the Black student senate seat had no appli- t DANIELLE M ABEY THE SIGNPOST Signpost News Analysis cants. Native American senator had two students file for write-in campaigns, but only seven votes were cast in that area. Pat Murphy, executive vice-president candidate, said student apathy was partly to blame for his loss. "I think I could have won if more of the student body voted," he said. Bryan Benard, social science senator, said many of the candidates could have focused more on certain campus populations. He cited his opponent as an example. Benard said he thinks Whiting could have centered his campaign around the veterans. "I think if he had gotten the veterans out to vote he probably would have beat me," he said. He added he had affiliations with g Barrow, Batchelor nab executive office slots By ERIC MORROW SIGNPOST govt, affairs editor Despite running uncontested, Brett Chugg unleashed a full campaign and raked in 1,254 votes to capture the ASWSU presidency for the 1993-94 school year. After a week of intensive campaigning, the winners of the ASWSU executive offices and senatorial positions were announced at an elections party Friday night in the Shepherd Union Building. "Even though my candidacy was uncontested, I ran my full campaign to show the students I am concerned about this university and that I plan to work hard while in office," Chugg said. Current student senator Julie Batchelor was elected as academic vice president. Batchelor also ran unopposed. In the battle for executive vice president, Nancy Barrow defeated Pat Murphy by 352 votes. Barrow expressed relief and satisfaction with the election results "It is such a relief to know that after such a hard week, the work I put into the campaign finally pays dividends, " Barrow said. On the other hand, Barrow's opponent, Pat Murphy, voiced his dismay over an apathetic student body and a staunchly reactionary student government. "WSU student apathy is pathetic, and it is also sickening that the student government is not only incestuous but neophobic," Murphy said. The controversial contest for J A jalMTlllllwjf Signs that now litter the campus the fraternities, performing arts and thelnstitute, threeof thelarg-est voting blocks on campus. "But I think that's politics," he said,addingmany timesstudents from the same voting groups get into office because they have the large power bases. He said Murphy could have wins election - - v i , n j ! !2j elections j Brett Chugg the office of social science senator witnessed a landslide re-election victory of Bryan Benard over his opponent Biff Whiting. After the results were announced, Benard said he was glad that he won on student votes and not technicalities. Bernard also attributed his election success to his constituents. "I've done a good job as senator, and I was supported by those I worked so hard for this year," Bernard said. Biff Whiting also expressed his feelings about the results. "I hadn't expected to win, but it's comforting to know that there are 318 thinking people out there. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes your get your butt kicked," Whiting said. In the contested office of non-traditional senator, Randy Minson defeated his opponent, Diana Tabor, by a slim margin of 43 votes. Jon Healy garnered 616 votes to win the integrated and general studies senator, defeating Shelley Batchelor, who took in 521 ballots.Rick Cloward edged out Scott ity DANIELLE MABEY THE SIGNPOST mark the end of election week. focused onstudents thatattended the HPEC facility and the smokers at the Shepherd Union Building.Whiting, a candidate for social sciences senator, refused to post signs or billboards. He did his campaigning on foot, attracting (See Election page 5) Jensen for the office of natural science senator, and Ashfaqur "Rony" Rahman defeated his opponent Nick Papaevripithes for the international students senatorial seat. Jami Lynn Michael, with 667 votes, edged out Jed Da vies, who won 506 votes, for the position of traditional senator. Several candidates for senate offices ran unopposed. The fol-lowingarenewsenatorsand their offices: J.Bates Arts and Humanities; Chris Hatch Business and Economics; Monique Benard -Education; Brent Richardson Health Professions; Tatiana Zapata Hispanic Students; Kendra Howell - Physically Challenged and Linzy Huntington Residence Hall. With a write-in campaign, Rich Erekson won the applied science and technology senator slot. Cathy Ziegiel won the Native American Students office in another write-in effort. The Black student senate seat attracted no candidates at all for the 1993-94 year. ODAY'S ARTS The Passing Zone delivers rounds of entertainment at Election Party. See page 6. g PORTS WSU golf team qualifies for NCAA western regionals. See page 10. EWS |