By Jim Chandley

Aaron Belli cites the qualities above as the reason he should be the secretary for the class of 2011.

“I understand that the position requires a large amount of time in the form of meetings, events, and community service. I am more than enthusiastic to take part in all of this with the role of Class Secretary,” says Belli.

Elections are currently taking place online.  Students can cast their votes at this site.

Only members of the class of 2011 are eligible to vote for Aaron Belli, but all students from the classes of 2012, 2011, and 2010 are eligible to vote in their own class elections.

In light of the recent Rambler article on the Student Government Association elections and the subsequent SGA hearing on the issue, I believe it’s important to provide a clear timeline of the events that transpired.

In the early morning of Thursday, March 26, the Rambler received information about the SGA elections involving a discrepancy in the “official” votes tallied and the amount of votes actually recorded. Late on Thursday morning we received hard evidence, a copy of the highlighted roster of eligible voters, that there was indeed a discrepancy in vote totals.

Following the verification of this information, the Rambler attempted to contact everyone involved to further investigate the discrepancy. We were able to interview Dean Vetter at 11 a.m. We then made phone calls to SGA President Molly Burchett at 11:38 a.m. and 12:57 p.m., Elections Chair Kausik Mohan at 11:42 a.m. and 11:55 a.m., and presidential candidates Jacob Brumfield and Tyler Murphy. Burchett and Brumfield could not be reached, Mohan refused to go on the record, and Murphy was the only one willing to provide a statement.

Shortly after contacting Mohan, we were visited by newly elected SGA Secretary Anderson Salinas and Mohan in the Student Publications Office. Both were adamant about obtaining our copy of the student roster, claiming we were in breach of the SGA constitution. This was the first in a series of unfounded threats made in an attempt to persuade the Rambler to give them our copy of the document.

Following the departure of Salinas and Mohan, I received a phone call from SGA Vice-President Lee Nutini. He requested to meet me alone in Clay-Davis Lobby to talk about the situation. However, instead of meeting only Nutini, Salinas and Mohan were also present. Salinas, Mohan and Nutini continued to focus solely on obtaining the copy of the student roster. Now, they argued that the roster was property of the Registrar’s Office and that all copies needed to be returned to the registrar. Nutini was adamant about getting the document immediately. Again, each refused to speak on the record.

In order to leave the conversation with minimal upset, I argued that I wished to speak with my staff and adviser. I later called Nutini informing him that the Rambler would not give the copy of the student roster to SGA.

After going to print at 3 p.m. on Thursday, an extended deadline, I and Layout and Design Editor Shannon Baldo ran into Burchett in Front Lobby. Burchett informed us that she had been in tests all afternoon and was not able to contact the Rambler. She also said that Mohan spoke with Jim Mills and that, according to him, we had committed a federal offense by simply having the copy of the student roster in our possession.

I then proceeded to call our adviser, Terri Mclean, in an attempt to ensure the Rambler’s right to have the document. Mclean spoke to Mills, who made it clear that the Rambler was not guilty of any offense, federal or otherwise.

Later in the afternoon on Thursday, News Editor Grace Chambers and I received an e-mail from Burchett. The e-mail was a response to a private e-mail Tyler Murphy had sent to her. In the e-mail Burchett continued to implicate the Rambler and Murphy, who she believed to be responsible for providing a copy of the registrar’s list to the Rambler, as committing a federal crime. Throughout the rest of the day and the weekend, the Rambler received multiple e-mails from members of the SGA Executive Council, along with Murphy’s response to Burchett.

The detailing of these events may seem tedious, but it is the Rambler’s job to provide as much information as possible to the students, faculty and staff of Transylvania. When presented with the information that the SGA elections contained a discrepancy in vote totals, there was no question about reporting this information as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we had a limited timeframe in which to collect, or attempt to collect, all of the information we possibly could. It was also unfortunate that Mohan, Salinas, and Nutini declined to comment on the vote discrepancies.

As a student newspaper it is our job to present the facts, no matter who might be upset, and to provide an avenue for students to express opinions about issues they feel strongly about. Hopefully, this is reflected in this week’s edition of the Rambler.

by Kris Olson
Columnist

In a hotly contested election of the Student Government Association, the immediate results revealed that Jacob Brumfield’s Facebook notes have defeated Tyler Murphy’s Facebook notes.

Facebook, an online networking site designed so that college students and their creepy parents can keep in touch with classmates, find local events and cycle through suggestive pictures of their secret crushes, is credited with keeping this election from becoming trivial. CNN’s political analyst David Gergen found the site’s role compelling.

“SGA is normally a mere smokescreen to make you think you have some say in how your school is run,” Gergen said. “But the rhetoric surrounding this election, especially the kind on Facebook, convinced me that SGA is the real deal.”

Early exit polling revealed that a surge of independent voters—those students unaffiliated with any particular hall party—might give Murphy’s Facebook notes and subsequent campaign videos an electoral edge. In the end, however, not enough independents left Hazelrigg to make a difference.

Murphy’s Facebook note announcing his run for SGA president was released on February 12, with Brumfield’s note following a week later. Whereas Murphy’s note highlighted an impressive college resume, his desire to put the student body’s interests first and his working relationship with the administration, Brumfield took a different approach by highlighting an impressive college resume, his desire to put the student body’s interests first and his working relationship with the administration.

Though some observers believe that these facts show there is no real difference between Brumfield and Murphy’s competence, experience and beliefs, myriad students felt compelled to actively campaign for one candidate or the other by joining Facebook groups devoted to one particular candidate as well as donning enormous campaign buttons.

Brumfield’s “I Want Jacob Brumfield to be the Next SGA President” buttons are assumed to have triumphed over Murphy’s “I Believe in Tyler Murphy” buttons. Though Transy students ultimately did not select the “I Believe in Tyler Murphy” buttons to head the SGA, the slogan allowed many students to state their belief that Tyler Murphy does, in fact, exist.

The election was not without controversy, however. Last week, this newspaper reported a discrepancy in vote totals, information sure to elicit trash talking and disingenuousness from everyone involved. Chris Matthews of MSNBC was moved by the historic moment.

“I am inspired by the fact that so many students who might otherwise be friends are now developing hard feelings over an election that will not matter two semesters from now,” Matthews said, wiping away a tear. “This sort of pettiness is usually reserved for bitching about tenure politics, but I’m glad to see it has trickled down to the student level.”

Matthews added that the Transy bubble “can never be too small.” As of this article’s printing, the student body had not reversed its previous commitment to ignore problems beyond Transy’s campus.

After three long weeks, the results are in! SGA elections took place the week of March 9^th and appointed positions on the executive and class boards were voted in on Monday, March 30^th at the Student Senate meeting. Congratulations to all the candidates, you did a great job!

The 2009-2010 SGA Executive Board is as follows:

SGA Executive Board 2009-2010 

SGA President: Elizabeth Palmer 

SGA Vice-President:  Nicole Mershon 

Chief Financial Officer: JJ Vogel 

Senate Chair: Caitlin Flanagan 

Recording Secretary: Loren Jasman 

Community Standards Assistant: James Castorina 

Public Relations Director: Elizabeth Kolakowski 

Special Events Director: Cristina DePierro 

Senior Class President: Heather McCusker 

Junior Class President: Mike Cilento 

Sophomore Class President: Preston Canales 

Board of Trustees Rep: Steve Rivera 

Alternate Board of Trustees Rep: Jill Steier 
 

Class Executive Board Members and Senators 

Senior Class Vice-President:  Jill Beley

Senior Class Secretary:   

Senior Class Treasurer: Ed Nees

Senior Class Senators:    

Junior Class Vice-President:  Shannon Miller

Junior Class Secretary:   

Junior Class Treasurer:   

Junior Class Senators: Noah Weinstein 

Sophomore Class Vice-President: Anthony Reid

Sophomore Class Secretary:  Caitlin Moskwa

Sophomore Class Treasurer:  Keith Lospinoso

Sophomore Class Senators:  Nick Monsu

                                    Abrina Hillson

                                    Louiza Ouazzi 

By Jim Chandley

That’s right, Jim Chandley announced his candidacy for Class of 2010 Treasurer just moments ago.

Haha, just making sure you’re paying attention.

After much controversary, many discussions and endless debate, the SGA executive board and advisors disqualified one of the candidates for the student body president for the 2009-2010 school year. As a result, Elizabeth Palmer is now unopposed in her campaign.Palmer’s opposing candidate was disqualified on the grounds that he breached the campaigning rules by handing out flyers on campus during voting times. It clearly states in rule #2 that, “Students may being distributing campaign materials on February 28th and must not continue after March 9th.” With this said, the disqualified candidate broke this rule and was therefore subject to punishment.
No votes will be counted. The disqualified candidate has appealed this decision, and although the SGA executive board and Adviors stand by their decision, it will be heard by the Student Senate on March 30, 2009. Feel free to join us in public session on the Student Center Ballroom at 7 p.m.

Once again the Rowan University student body will vote for their leading officials. Monday, March 9^thafter the student Senate meeting, the Rowan Democratic club is hosting a debate for Phillip Castro and Elizabeth Palmer, the two Presidential candidates for the 2009-2010 school year. From March 10^th to March 12^ththe SGA elections will be held. While, Senate Chair, Chief Financial Officer, Public Relations Director, Special Events Director and Community Standards Assistant are Senate appointed positions, you will still see president, vice president, recording secretary, senior class president and vice president, junior class president and vice president and sophomore class president and vice president will all be on the ballot. Unfortunately, there are several positions running un-opposed. Regardless, the President and Vice President positions should be a good race.  The candidates for each position are as follows:

President

Phil Castro

Elizabeth Palmer

Vice President

Nicole Mershon

 Jeff Walsh

CFO

 Jon J. Vogel

Senate Chair

 Noel Pendergras

 Caitlin Flanagan

Recording Secretary

Loren Jasman

Public Relations Director

Beth Kolakowski

Special Events Director

Cristina DePierro

Junior Class President

Noah Weinstein

Mike Cilento

Junior Class Vice President

Diance Wurst

Shannon Miller

Sophomore Class President

 James Castorina

Nicholar Monsu

Preston  Canales

Sophomore Class Vice President

Anthony Reid

MoJo = Mobile Journalist

Today I covered the Andrew Huschka / Laura Rachelle White K-State student body president general election watch party…with a camera, as well as my voice recorder and notepad. I was assigned to them because I covered their primary election watch party.

My video of the watch party:

Anyway, Huschka and White lost, so I got the less-exciting story compared to my friend and colleague Scott Girard, the online editor for the Collegian, who covered Dalton Henry and Wayne Stoskopf’s watch party, K-State’s next student body president and vice president.

The camera was not new to me, but this is the first time I’ve used a camera for a story I intend to publish. I was also in sort of a hurry to finish the video and publish it online, so my editing is not perfect by any means. I was also dissapointed to learn that I had to figure out iMovies instead of using Final Cut Pro, which is all I’ve known until now. That means I can’t mess with the voice overs and had to deal with the video the way it is.

I made a video about the Huschka/White primary election watch party as well, but that was for a class. I’ll upload that to my next blog post so you all can see how much better a video can be with the proper software.

The audio/video component to capturing a story is definitely exciting for me and I plan to do more of it in the future, so check back often.

SGA + U

With the 2009 SGA (Student Governement Association) elections just around the corner at Oklahoma State University, I’ve observed the candidates’ use of social media ‘buzz words’ to enhance their individual campaigns.
While listening to the opponents’ campaign speeches, I picked up on the use of the words Facebook, YouTube videos, Twitter accounts, etc. Not only are the Journalism/Broadcasting students at OSU aware of the social media networks available today but even SGA candidates, members, and students are becoming aware of the reach that social media networks can bring to our campus.
It’s crazy to think that I learned about Twitter six months ago and now more than just Public Relations students are talking about it.
I agree with the campaign strategies Tyler Powell & Erica Tyler and the Merritt twins are using to incorporate social media as a means to target the needs, wants and concerns of the students. Opening an SGA Twitter account and posting blogs and videos can only enhance the involvement of the OSU student body.
With this in the minds of the candidates, I hope to see social media techniques utilized at OKstate in the near future.
(OKstate students, don’t forget to vote March 3 & 4 @ elections.okstate.edu)

If you’ve ever wanted to make an impact on Rowan, now is your chance! You can get involved, make change, meet friends, build relations and help your fellow peers all by simply running for a position on the SGA executive board. The best part? It’s only a letter of intent and resume away!

In order to be eligible for a position on the “e-board,” you need at least a 2.75 GPA and be in good standing with the university. Additionally, if you are interested in running for SGA President, Vice President or Senate Chair, you must have served one (1) year on the SGA e-board or on a SGA chartered club’s e-board. To run for the Chief Financial Officer position you must have spent one (1) year on the Student Financial Control Board (SFCB) or be a finance major.

If interested in any e-board position, please contact one of the SGA representatives, or visit the SGA suite located on the second floor of the Student Center.

While Rowan University has plenty of qualified applications, an apathy hangs over the campus that causes less than 10% of the student body to vote in the Student Government elections. Apparently we’re not the only university plagued by this problem…

SGA elections are quickly approaching, but do you even know what SGA is? The University of South Dakota is having the same problem: SGA awareness during election time. [The Volante]

SGA identity crisis problems are popping up everywhere, see what the University of Wisconsin-Madison is doing about it. [The Capital Times]

This past week’s SGA elections bought out many people to vote however an unheard of tie vote for Senior Class President occurred, meaning a Run-Off must occur this Monday that will determine whether current SGA President, Brittany Meyer or former Freshmen Class President (2005-2006 year) Freddy Melendez will take charge of the Class of 2009.

The student body approved the Rowan EMS of getting a new ambulance after a long completion against the SGA’s support of purchasing a new “Rowan Bus.”

Students were fired up this year because it caused many students to voice their concerns on various Facebook groups the supported both the ambulance and the bus.

The Student Life Fee referendum also passed this year. This means that there will additional programming with Rowan After Hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. This vote was a yes or no ballot.

Other winners this year was Nicole Mershon for SGA Vice President, Jessica-Rae D’Ambrosio for Recording Secretary.

Today was the deadline for students that interested in open positions for Special Events Director, Community Standards Assistant, Class Executive Board Position (Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), and Senator positions.

However Rowan should feel extremely lucky with the outcomes with their election because the some universities election “run-offs” occur because of the unfair political practices during the election week.

At Colby College this past March the SGA disqualified two students running on the same ticket for illegal campaigning.

Students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL has a problem with student write-in votes. According to their campus newspaper the Crimson White, political figures such as John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton received votes. Even Monica Lewinsky made the ballots.

The unofficial election results are finally in.

LaKesha Ross won Miss Grambling with 501 votes.  ShaMya Floyd came in second with 478 votes.  Chea Hudgins came in third with 356 votes, and Regina Robinson came in fourth with 283 votes.

Chris Harmon defeated Alonzo Blalock for SGA President, 1,009 votes to 609 votes.

Steven Jackson ran opposed for SGA Vice President and ranked in 1,618 votes.

Jennifer Wilson defeated Kindall Plains for SGA Secretary, 1,231 votes to 387 votes.

The Senior Class President had no candidates.  The Senior Class Vice President is Staci Hall, who ran unopposed.  The Senior Class Secretary is Lashonna Rose, who also ran unopposed.

Miss Senior is Rachel Hickerson, who captured 413 votes.  Airiea Williams came in second with 156 votes, while Shevlyn Mack came in third with 129 votes.

The positions for the Junior Class will be announced Monday at 5:30.  There was a glitch in the system that caused the results to be delayed.

The first day of polling opened today, and it was nearly pure mayhem on the Yard.  Many candidates were out and about trying to cater to potential voters in many different ways.  One candidate was passing out snocones, while the other was giving out bottles of waters.

In the end, it was a pretty eventful day for GSU students.  However, there has been some controversy over the polls.  Grad students are not allowed to vote in the campaigns.  However, grad students pay fees for both the SGA and the royal court.

There has been talk that the grad students have their own SGA, but that is unconfirmed as of right now.  Other than that snafu, the first day of polling went well.

SGA Elections Day #2 started off with the shocking dismissals of the VP of Student Affairs and SGA Adviser.  No reason has been given for the dismissals, and one is not generally required for at-will employees, even though it is protocol.

No word on if there will be punishments for the rule violations discovered.  I can now confirm that the rule violations have to do with Facebook and pre-campaigning.  While the parties accused will not be mentioned, most students know who they are.

It’s been a wild campaign week so far, and it’s only beginning.  There is still some bubbling about the Miss GSU campaigns, but it’s been under the radar so far.

It’s the first day of the SGA Election campaign and, already, there have been plenty of craziness going on. I’m actually quite shocked at the things I’ve heard and seen. While I won’t get into all of the mess right now, I will say that this is definitely on pace to be one of the messiest campaigns ever.

The sad part is, there aren’t that many people that are campaigning. There have been numerous rule violations that I’ve seen and heard. Hopefully, those on the SGA Elections Commission will make sure that all candidates are treated fairly. If not, it will be a sure and clear-cut sign that corruption exists at this prestigious university.