Freshmen election turnout low

By Allison Sundaram

Despite "an unprecedented number of campaign events," and a new system for freshman class officers, Wednesday's election saw a low turnout, with only 15 percent of the freshman class voting.

Voting took place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, across from the Benson fountain. The winners were Peter Lo, Crystalyn Hoffman, Jill Carleton and Scarlette McKenzie. A run-off election will be held between Christina Harris, Amy Warmerhoven, Erica Mawbey-Lance and Erika Moen, who each received between 40 and 43 percent of the vote.

"The turnout is not bad," election worker Pearl Lo said at noon, Wednesday. "We're getting a lot of people in bunches, but it seems like its going pretty good."

Nine candidates ran, with freshmen given the opportunity to "pick five" senators. This election is the first implementing the new AS system, approved last year, which removed the positions of class officers.

The recent candidate's night in the Bronco offered all nine prospective officers the chance to address a university audience through television and their live presentation. The event was attended by approximately 35 people, including the candidates, their supporters and friends.

A platform shared by many candidates was ending the isolation of people within RLCs. Two senators, Scarlette McKenzie and Christina Harris, specifically addressed the concept, advocating mixers and social events between the various dorm residents.

Others focused on their accessibility, technological skills and ability to perform in front of an audience. However, cameras did not seem to fall under "audience" for one candidate, who waved off a The Santa Clara photographer's picture attempts.

"Could we stop the photography?" Peter Lo asked. He then proceeded to discuss his abilities in addressing a television audience, like that for the weekly AS Senate meetings, saying he was "not afraid to be on TV."

The refrain for the candidates however was that they want to work for what students want.

"I'll not only be the friend who listens to your complaints, I'll be the senator who says 'I'll see what I can do,'" Jill Carleton said during her presentation.

Several candidates had Web sites or Facebook groups, and made references to their sites during their several minute pitches. Cooperation was also evident within the race as candidate Jackie Huynh had her web site designed and hosted by fellow candidate Peter Lo.

AS has tried to gather more support and awareness about the elections. "We've had an unprecedented number of campaign events," Seldin said. Optional events for the candidates were held in 4 RLCs, with almost total participation. "In all of them we had at least eight of nine candidates," Seldin said.

The turn-out was down from the approximately 40 percent of Class of 2008 freshmen who voted in last year's election. For some freshmen, even the expanded outreach events were not enough to impress the need for participation. "It's not important enough to me," Micah Johnson-Breineier said.

To bolster participation AS is continuing to look for alternate voting methods, such as online voting, even after last year's "Survey Monkey" controversy. According to Seldin, AS is also working with IT to develop an in-house voting system.

Contact Allison Sundaram at (408) 554-4546 or asundaram@scu.edu.