Erin Swetland will take over as ASI president for the 2008-09 school year after winning a landslide victory Friday.
Swetland received 68 percent of the votes, with candidates Eyad Aljubran at 21 percent and Raul Preciado at 10 percent.
“This process was hard. I’m so thankful to God, my friends, my family and the student body,” Swetland said as she was enveloped by hugs and handshakes.
Swetland said that her first matter of business is to start planning for next year. She wants to have everything ready before fall 2008.
“I’m here to serve; I’m going to work hard,” Swetland said. As the crowd cleared, she ended with “Go Beach.”
“I was surprised at the results,” Aljubran said. “Online voting really made a difference with more people voting. I’m not sure what that means, but there are a lot of things to be considered in the process.”
The results for vice president between Chris Chavez and Jason Aula will be announced after the run-off election this next week. None of the candidates received the 50 percent plus-one majority needed to win. Chavez had 43 percent and Aula had 31 percent, dropping Rueben Cordova out of the race.
“I am surprised to see the split,” Chavez said. He said that his first order of business if elected would be to start working on the legislative agenda for senate, along with recognizing national issues affecting students.
“I’m not surprised at all that Erin won. She’s a great leader and I’m looking forward to what she can do,” said Hayley Crombine, a senior recreation and leisure studies major. Crombine, who is the president of Tri Delta, said she helped convince her sorority that Swetland was the right choice.
The results of the poll on the “Open Lunch” resolution, which would prohibit the scheduling of classes from 12 p.m to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, failed with 2,455 students voting no.
A total of 4,346 students voted in ASI’s first online election, making it the highest voter turnout since 2005.
“Voting was really convenient this year. It’s fast, it’s fun, and you don’t have to wait,” said Sambath Phann, a senior philosophy major.
