VSA elections delayed, results announced

Juliana Kiyan Guest Writer

Results for the Vassar Student Association freshmen elections for the fall semester were announced on Wednesday, Sept. 28. A miscommunication between the VSA and a candidate discounted the earliest votes, causing the voting period to be extended and the results party to be pushed back a day.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 26, 659 students could vote online for their choice candidates. The VSA website listed the candidates running for each of the 69 positions, along with their statements which promoted their objectives. Josselyn had the highest turnout, followed by Main.

The original 24-hour voting period, from 8 p.m. on Monday to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, was extended at the last minute, when one candidate, Jay Um ‘09, took himself out of the running for treasurer the day voting began.

“After voting was started, it was discovered that [Um] had changed his mind before voting, but had not been put back on the ballot,” said VSA Vice-President Kelsey Woods ’06. “He was reinstated too late into the election and therefore wasn't on the ballot for the first 170 voters.” The VSA council held an emergency meeting and decided to restart voting at 11 p.m. on Monday.

Students were notified of this change by email, and votes recorded before 11 p.m. that day were discarded and those students were able to recast their votes.

“I appreciate VSA's fast and appropriate response to reset the election, and I am glad that it worked out well,” said Um.

The Retreat was home to the results party on Wednesday evening, during which winners were announced. For the class of 2009, James Kelly was elected president. His statement online, promoting community service and cohesiveness among freshman, said, “I hope to serve as a strong voice for the freshmen class on VSA council. I would also like to work with the other classes and organizations at Vassar to boost our efforts on campus, especially with the low budget number we have.” The rest of the Class of 2009 council includes Summers-Grace Green as vice-president, Jacquelyn Matava as secretary, and Jay Um as treasurer.

Objectives for the class of 2009 officers are of similar accord, for all wish to establish strong leadership and unity. “I hope to help the 2009 board stay organized so as to allow everything to run smoothly,” said Matava.

As treasurer, Um said, “My main goals would be to raise lots, lots, and lots of money in fundraising and to use the allotted budget as efficiently as possible.”

The races for Class of 2009 dorm representatives were close this fall, with the following freshmen prevailing: Emily Thompson for Cushing, Noah Fowler for Davison, Timothy Eng for Jewett, Hannah DeYoung for Josselyn, Dane Jensen for Lathrop, Rowan Hill for Main, Isabella Demougeot for Noyes, Sara Cornish for Raymond, and Lorette Fisher for Strong. Students voted on committee representatives as well. The 2009 judicial board members are Caitlin Crisp ‘09 and Steven Wells ‘08. The complete list of winners can be found at http://vsa.vassar.edu/elections/Candidates.php.