The Rocket

Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Nate Daymut B-E-S-T Party presidental candidate Ryan McGregor (left) congratulates newly elected 2007-08 SGA president Larry Brink, (right) of the Poplar Party, after the winning candidates were announced Thursday.

The Poplar Party swept the executive board positions while the Cornerstone Party won the most senator positions in the 2007-08 Student Government Association election that received 1,608 student votes during the Tuesday and Wednesday balloting.

Candidates from the B-E-S-T, Cornerstone and Poplar parties each won positions in this year's election that outranked last year's 1,278 total votes.

"I'm happy to see so much interest," SGA President Amie Homa said. "I have complete faith and I'm sure they'll do a good job next year."

The executive board for next year will be President Larry Brink (Poplar), Vice President of Student Life Carol Waters (Cornerstone), Vice President of Academic Affairs Meghan Oefinger (Cornerstone), Vice President of Advancement Justin Lubecki (Poplar), Vice President of Administrative Affairs Stephanie Kresge (Poplar) and Vice President of Financial Affairs Michael Combs (Poplar).

A complaint was filed Thursdayby Garrison Phillis, Cornerstone party candidate for vice president of financial affairs, after it was announced Michael Combs, Poplar candidate for vice president of financial affairs, would not be allowed to take the SGA position if he won last week.

Ashley Clark, current SGA Parliamentarian, said no campaign rules were violated by any of the four parties throughout the election period that began March 19. However, she would not comment to help explain the Combs appeal situation, after she had informed The Rocket about the situation March 22.

Brink confirmed Combs was not running in the election the night of the SGA Election Campaign Forum last Thursday.

Including the executive positions, one person was elected from the B-E-S-T party, 13 from Poplar and 17 from Cornerstone.

"I'm just happy that Cornerstone won a large portion of the positions," said Steve Winslow, Cornerstone president candidate. "I just hope that there's a lot of changes (next year). I challenge them to step up to the plate and see what needs to be done."

Winslow said he hopes SGA office hours will increase, a plan that was included on the Cornerstone platform.

"I'm very happy with the turnout," Larry Brink, Poplar president elect, said. "We knew if we won, it would be a mixed ballot."

Ryan McGregor, the B-E-S-T candidate for president, said he was pleased Brink won the election.

"I ran the best campaign that I could," McGregor said. "I think that it is going to send SGA in a new direction."

Lauren Wilhelm, Kraus Hall senator elect from the B-E-S-T party, agreed.

"There will be more ideas and conviction on all three sides to make Slippery Rock better," she said. "There will be more representation of the student body because of the mixed ballot."

Resident Hall senators for next year include Vanessa Valdez, Bard Hall (Cornerstone); Tyson Johnston, Harner Hall (Cornerstone); Lauren Wilhelm, Kraus Hall (B-E-S-T); Elizabeth Kerr, North Hall (Cornerstone); La-Shawn Stewart, Rhoads Hall (Cornerstone); Nicole Yale, Building A (Cornerstone); Monica Shaw, Building B (Cornerstone); Brian Turner, Watson Hall (Cornerstone); Kayse Hicks, Rhoads Hall (Poplar); and Kimberly Smith, graduate student senator (Poplar).

Commuter senators include Lauren Beck (Cornerstone); Erin Berger (Cornerstone); Jen Blasko (Poplar); Tom Cephas (Cornerstone); Jackie Freeman (Poplar); Nathan Jones (Cornerstone); Kyle Kekic (Cornerstone); Evan Matthews (Poplar); Bill Painter (Cornerstone); Shawnta Reed (Cornerstone); Lara Rizzi (Poplar); Nathan Shadeck (Poplar); Adam Smelko (Poplar); Krista Smith (Cornerstone); and Chris Spudic (Poplar).

Amy Kelly and Mike Mallory contributed to the reporting of this story.

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