Renner reacts to Elections Committee's decision
By COLLEEN McCARTHY
Associate News Ediror
At the Board of Governance meeting Tuesday night, Saint Mary's student body president-elect Crissie Renner said she had second thoughts about her ability to represent the student body.
"The meeting tonight was very emotional," said Renner. "Initially, at the start of the meeting, while I was sitting there looking at all the faces of members of the student body who came to the meeting and were clearly opposed to Michelle and I, people were making me second-guess my ability to represent the student body. That is initially the thought that entered my mind."
Board of Governance members fielded questions regarding the Elections Appeals Board's Tuesday morning decision to declare the Renner/Nagle ticket victorious in the race for student body president and vice president.
The board conceded the win to Renner/Nagle because the ticket earned 43 percent of the vote in the Jan. 31 primary election in which four tickets participated. That election originally thrust Renner/Nagle and the ticket of Emily Koelsch and Rachele Rodarte into a run-off held Wednesday, Feb. 2, which ended in a tie.
The election controversy began after results from a second run-off election, held Friday, was nullified by the Elections Committee on Sunday night.
The vote was void in response to a complaint filed by Renner stating that Friday's election was not valid because the decision to have the election was not made by the proper committee. Also, she stated that off-campus students were not provided an adequate place to vote.
Renner stands behind her decision to file the complaint.
"I just want people to know that what the Elections Commission and Election Appeals Board decided was not my decision," said Renner. "I filed the complaint Sunday because it was my right as a student to make my voice be heard. I voiced a complaint that was what I believed in my heart was the right thing to do and what I was feeling.
"I won't compromise what is in my heart."
Renner's running mate and student body vice president-elect, Michelle Nagle, did not file the complaint with Renner and was surprised at the outcome.
"I never thought we would assume office after the complaint was filed," said Nagle. "It makes me doubt how much I wanted this position when I hear how adamantly students are opposed to what the Elections Commission and Election Appeals Board decided."
Nagle said she will not step down as student body vice president but added at Tuesday meeting that it was easy to doubt whether she and Renner were doing the right thing by taking office.
"It's hard under what I felt was a personal attack on our ticket tonight not to question whether this was the right thing to do," Nagle said.
Despite what she perceived as personal attacks, Renner was pleased to see members of the student body at the meeting.
"It's a great thing that people are so passionate about Saint Mary's and student government," she said. "It was evident that many of those who were at the meeting were not our supporters and many of my supporters weren't here."
Renner admits this is not the way she and Nagle had hoped to start their term in office.
"It's unfortunate that we have to start the year this way, but in a way it is beneficial," said Renner. "There were a lot of issues raised tonight that need to be addressed. Unfortunately, it had to be under these circumstances."
Koelsch's resignation at the meeting from her post as the Board of Governance women's issues commissioner convinced Renner that some students have lost trust in student government.
"I know Emily did what she thought in her heart was what she had to do," said Renner. "I can tell that she has lost faith and trust in the student government because of mistakes that have been made. She's such an asset to student government and I hope she doesn't completely close all her doors."
Renner and Nagle plan to work to regain the trust of the student body and won't let circumstances surrounding the election get in the way of accomplishing their goals.
"I'm hoping that we can gain the confidence of the student body and that starts by getting more women involved in student government," said Renner.
"I want to hold forums on campus so we can talk to the student body and address their concerns. There is a lot of anger right now on campus and we need to deal with that."
Sustained confidence is what will help the ticket achieve goals, Renner said.
"I took much of what was said tonight personally but coming into the election, both Michelle and I knew that we could be met with criticism," she said. "We will continue to be confident and enthusiastic that we can achieve our goals. But we can't do it alone and we are asking for the support of the student body."
Both Renner and Nagle said the controversy that arose over the incident has strengthened them personally.
"Looking at the bigger picture, I think there may be some students who will hold a grudge against me, but I have come out of this a stronger person," said Renner. "I'm confident that Michelle and I can serve the student body. We may not be the representatives you wanted, but we will listen to you and we won't close the door on your opinion just because you didn't vote for us."
Nagle agreed and realizes that she and Renner face an uphill battle in gaining the confidence of the student body.
"I believe this is very much a challenge but I hope we can give the student body the confidence that we are capable of representing them," said Nagle. "We want to make this OK. It obviously makes me doubt if I should be representing the student body hearing all the objections tonight to having us in office.
"I can't even describe how awful I feel at this moment," Nagle continued, "but I do believe that I can do this job and hope that Crissie and I can prove that to the student body."
Nagle acknowledged the negative impact the past days' decisions have had at Saint Mary's.
"I am sincerely sorry for all the hurt that has come from this election and to everyone who was involved," she said. "I am sorry for all the disappointment this has caused for the student body."
All News Stories for Wednesday, February 9, 2000
