Voters have re-elected Alika Turton to a second year as the UB Council Student Representative. She won 45.26% of votes in a three-way race that concluded Wednesday night.
Of 855 total votes, Turton received 387, a 165-vote lead over Jack Walsh and a 167-vote lead over Cameron Kiner.
2.83% of UB’s 30,172 students voted in the election.
This year’s election was more contentious than usual, after a UB rule change prohibited candidates from promoting advocacy measures or having a platform. Turton repeatedly alleged, without offering evidence, that she was threatened and harassed during the course of the campaign.
Per the rule change, Turton did not run on a platform. She repeated her motto from last year's election: “Lead. Empower. Innovate.”
Turton’s candidate statement touted her advocacy work during her year in office.
“I have been able to address/begin starting conversations on many of the issues that I originally ran on last year. Many of which have resulted in petitions that COAL members have supported and equally advocated alongside me for such as – bettering campus transportation and enhancing UB’s accessibility protocols,” Turton wrote in her statement.
The Student Representative is an unpaid, voting member of the UB Council. The Student Representative also chairs the Council of Advocacy and Leadership (COAL), a body composed of the heads of UB’s student governments.
Turton’s term will begin on July 1 and conclude on June 30, 2025.
Turton could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
Alisha Allison is an assistant news editor and can be reached at alisha.allison@ubspectrum.com
Sol Hauser is the senior news editor and can be reached at sol.hauser@ubspectrum.com
