Speers victor in freshman elections

By Loretta Beavers

Freshman runoff elections ended Wednesday with Brad Speers as class president amid allegations of election code violations by the previous top candidate.

Almost 40 percent of freshmen turned out to vote. Last year, only 15 percent of the student body voted in the Associated Students of Santa Clara University general elections.

Coming in waves between classes, 458 freshmen of a class of around 1,200 arrived at the Associated Students booth set up between Benson and Kenna.

The presidential race changed significantly on Oct. 14, when the prior day's top vote-getter Grant Cassingham, with 27.27 percent, was eliminated from Friday's run-off elections for not following the election code regarding e-mailing.

Mike Detoy was Cassingham's closest competitor in the first round with 23.86 percent of the vote. Brad Speers, who received third place with 18.4 percent, replaced Cassingham on the ballot.

"I feel like I was resurrected -- pulled back from the dead," said Speers, upon hearing the news about the run-off election. "I've been given a second chance and I don't want to blow it."

Speers successfully campaigned during the run-off period to win the post with 51.5 percent of the vote. Alyssa Lu won the vice president post with 52.8 percent.

Only 227 students returned Friday to vote in the run-off. Sophomore Senator Jenny Moody, who worked at the poll booth on Friday, said the drop off in turnout was typical.

On Oct. 13, students chose from among seven presidential candidates, four vice-presidential candidates, two treasurer candidates, and 10 senator candidates.

More than 50 percent of the vote is needed to win an executive office. But in run-offs students vote for the top-two candidates from the first round. This year, the top-five senators won positions without a run-off.

Freshmen had the chance to meet the candidates on Oct. 11 in the Bronco.

Students like presidential candidate Mike Detoy attempted to draw in voters using a friendly appeal. Others took a more serious approach, like newly elected treasurer, Laura Castaneda, who discussed her previous leadership experience.

"I've run a conference for 3000 students," she said. "I'm really trustworthy, and organized. I have good time management skills."

With the completion of freshman elections Friday, the Associated Students government will be fully functional for the school year.

The five newly elected freshman senators make up one quarter of the senate body and will help decide on matters such as club funding and university issues.

The five senators include: Austin Woody, who received 15.3 percent of the vote; Natalie Cummins,13.6 percent; Katy Erker, 11.8 percent; Trisha Hall, 10.6 percent; and Jamie Nally, 10.4 percent.

The freshman executive officers are: President Brad Speers, Vice-President Alyssa Lu, and Treasurer Laura Castaneda. They will report to the senate on freshman class activities. Most class officers organize events to build community, or to raise funds for charities.

In tandem with the freshman class elections, Associated Students also sought applications for the freshman student justice last week.

Eighteen people came to the information sessions, and four applied. The class justices are interviewed and appointed by the executive branch of Associated Students.

Chief Justice Abe Andrade announced at the "Meet the Candidates" event on Monday that applicant Jared Abercrombie had been appointed.

Many candidates expressed their desire to feel more connected to Santa Clara as a motivation to run.

"I really like to get involved with different people and I felt that in the past, being on student council gives me a connection with a lot of groups I never would have gotten a connection with if I wasn't on the student council," freshman Kristen Boffi said.

To be eligible to run, students had to attend one of two mandatory information sessions about running and fill out an application.

Prospective candidates were given a long list of regulations, which some felt were too restrictive, like Speers.

"There are many, many, many rules, and guidelines, and by-laws to running a campaign at Santa Clara University," he said. "It basically limits you to announcing that you're running, chalking, and that's about it."

Most candidates campaigned by chalking the sidewalk, distributing flyers, and talking to people. A new form of campaigning this year involved the TV monitors in Benson.

At the information sessions, Associated Student officers took digital pictures of the attendees. Each applicant wrote a description of 20 words or less that was turned into a digital slide to run on the LCD screens.

Associated Students Vice President Amy Chan said that being in a Residential Learning Community gave an advantage because of the strong community interaction, such as group dinners and organized events. However, she had encouraged attendees at the information sessions to move beyond the RLC to the whole freshman class.