When members of the Momentum Party gathered outside of the Student Association office Friday, they received pleasant news - their party was voted into every executive board and SUNY Student Assembly position on the ballot.
A total of 1,779 students voted in the election. President-elect George Pape and vice president-elect Jocelyn Tejeda received 1,198 votes, winning their positions by a significant margin.
Their opponents, Philip Fort and Matthew Ringler, presidential and vice presidential candidates from the UB Chillin' Party, received 462 votes in their favor.
The Momentum Party's candidate for treasurer, Anthony Burgio, ran unopposed and received 1,313.
"First off, we congratulate the UB Chillin' Party on a campaign well run," Pape said. "We are obviously very excited ourselves and are very eager to work with each other next year."
As president, Pape said one of his goals is to get every undergraduate student involved in SA.
"I am excited and overwhelmed as well," Tejeda said. "I congratulate UB Chillin' for working so hard."
Current SA President Christian Oliver said he was optimistic about the Momentum Party's ability to perform well in their new positions next year.
"It is time for the next chapter in my life," Oliver said. "I have the utmost confidence in next year's SA administration. I expect nothing but great things from these guys."
Although Fort said he did not feel like members of SA welcomed him as a candidate during his campaign, Fort said he enjoyed being involved in a political forum for the first time in his life.
"I am fine with the results," Fort said. "I see that 500 people agree with me, or I have 500 friends. My biggest problem with the election was the adamant feeling of SA members that if students aren't included in clubs, then their opinion doesn't matter."
According to Fort, before the election, members from the two parties agreed to offer the other party positions within SA, regardless of who won.
Fort also said the UB Chillin' Party is not discouraged and will run for SA office next year.
"Next year, they are going to be organized," Fort said.
All the candidates for SUNY SA delegate seats came from the Momentum Party and were therefore unopposed.
Dennis Febo took the lead among his fellow candidates, receiving 1,242 votes, followed by Cheryl Rozario, who won 1,232; May Wong, who won 1,202; and Khristin Pietraszewski, who received 1,180 votes.
Students also voted on a referendum that asked students if they were in favor of increasing the mandatory student activity fee to $3 per semester for The Spectrum student subscription.
Despite the fact that 591 students voted "yes" to the referendum while 389 voted "no," the referendum failed because less than 10 percent of the undergraduate student population cast a vote on the issue.
While more than 10 percent of the undergraduate population voted during the three-day election - 1,779, which was down from last year's total of 2,001 - numerous students did not vote either for or against the fee increase.
Students cited several reasons for why they did not come out to vote this year.
"I didn't know what (the candidates') platforms were," said Kim Warner, a sophomore psychology major. "Therefore, I didn't vote."
"I only voted for The Spectrum funding increase because I have not had the time to learn about the SA candidates," said Jeff Welcher, a senior communication major.
According to Susan Eckert, a sophomore biology major, it is important for students to vote in the university elections, because she said students who do not vote forfeit their right to complain about what they disagree with.
"Honestly," said Crystal Guerra, a sophomore psychology major, "I feel that whether I voted or not, it wouldn't have made a difference."
"With a combination of getting near finals and the conflict overseas, it really didn't occur to me to vote," said Mike Gerace, a senior history and pre-pharmacy major.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
