Presidential election divides community
Letter to the Editor
What was supposed to bring the Saint Mary's community together has instead torn us apart. One week ago, the first vote took place. With four tickets on the ballot, a run-off was certain and expected. What happened last Wednesday, however, was not expected.
The first-ever tie was cause for celebration for some, when in all actuality it was only prolonging the inevitable — one ticket losing. Both tickets were then given yet another day to campaign. Only one ticket came to our door. Not surprisingly, that is the ticket that we voted for along with the majority of our fellow classmates. The final count late friday night: Koelsch/Rodarte, 51 percent; Renner/Nagle, 46 percent.
Now the losing ticket has appealed the decision. They certainly got what they wanted — Koelsch/Rodarte held office for almost 48 hours, but not anymore. Who knows what will happen next? We are once again being torn in two directions. In our opinion, this was the worst decision the Elections Commission could have made. Once again, the student body will either be forced to choose or a decision will be made that, as a student body, we will have no control over. At this point, no matter which ticket wins, just under half of the Saint Mary's population will be bitter about the result.
How unfortunate that at a time when we should be coming together to help the new student body president start her term, we are once again being torn apart because of a technicality. If the Elections Commission is truly acting on our behalf, it will start from scratch and hold an entirely new election. In the end, some people will undoubtedly be unhappy, but at least the true opinion of the student body will decide who becomes president and vice president, proving that contrary to popular belief, democracy IS still alive on the Saint Mary's campus.
Shannon Sarachman
KrisAnne Wilson
Juniors
LeMans Hall
February 8, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 9, 2000
