SGA elections

April 7, 2005
By Katie Kerr
Staff Writer

The St. Ambrose Student Government Association election was held Tuesday March 22nd and had an increase in voter turnout from previous years.

From 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Rogalski Center, students were able to approach the voting table and vote in their picks for next year.

Voter turnout was up from 8% last year, to 18% this year. Current SGA president Ben Kiel was disappointed in the voter turnout and a student who ran for an office position.

“In my opinion, a lot of the reason the turnout is not outstanding is due to a variety of factors,” Kiel said. “One being that there are commuters and not everyone on campus passes the voting table. We can’t force people to vote.”

Kiel’s campaign was based on getting out and talking to students. His plan of attack was to use flyers on the cafeteria and mailings. Kiel and his running mate Beth Pfeiffer made sure to get the news out about their goals to help them win.

They felt their background in SGA and their plans for improving the school was what they needed to win the close election.

“Our goals for next year are continuing to work towards a check-in policy compromise, determining how we can help with the class size increases and classroom shortages, and possibly even trying to start a yearbook again,” Kiel said.

“Plus, working to improve the graduation ceremony, and make an overall attempt to bring more tradition back to campus are at the top of our list.”

Kiel ran for SGA president with running mate Beth Pfeiffer. They came out victorious with 45% of the votes. Gil Cervelli defeated LeAnn Blindt for senior class president, while there were no candidates for senior class vice president. Senior class senator was awarded to Jessica Delp.

Tryphena Ebizie and James Gimbel will represent the junior class as president and vice president respectively. There were no candidates for junior class senator, but the sophomore class voted Carol Haywood into office as president and Emma Crino as vice president.
Alex Cahill will work with Crino and Haywood as the sophomore class senator for the upcoming term.

Kari Rogers won the election for college of arts and sciences senator and Kelly Cates won the election for the college of education and health sciences senator. Candidates will be sworn in on April 5.

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