In what may be one of the closest finishes in Student Government history, 13 votes decided the election in favor of Colorado Robertson and Shannon Bates. Robertson and Bates sprang to their feet in elation, while contenders Dixon McMakin and Kristen Oaks stared blankly at the vote totals by which their opponents triumphed. After barely securing a majority with 50.098 percent of the student vote, Student Senate Speaker Robertson and mass communication junior Bates will serve as the 2008-2009 SG president and vice president, respectively. McMakin and Oaks finished with 49.902 percent. Intense emotions erupted Thursday evening when SG Elections Commissioner Jacob Gower announced the victors in Lockett Hall. A sea of advocates for “The Foundation,” clad in blue and white, cheered when they saw the numbers. But tears flowed from several “Vision 2008” supporters sporting the ticket’s purple-and-yellow stamp. While 13 may be Bates’ new lucky number, a tearful Oaks said the number once held a special meaning for her. “It is funny, 13 was my number in sports when I was in high school,” Oaks said. Oaks, College of Agriculture senator, said she fears for the next year of SG, although she said Robertson-Bates will do “an okay job.” “Both [McMakin and Robertson] asked me to run, and I had so much faith in Dixon because there is no one who has a passion for this University like he does,” Oaks said. “I wanted it for him, not so much for me, and that’s what I’m most disappointed about.” SG Director of Athletics McMakin said he was expecting a close race, but the results went the wrong way. He said he was proud of the students who voted in both elections because he strongly discourages voter apathy. McMakin said he is also proud of the “Vision 2008” winners. “I have been honored to have this experience to run for SG president and to work with such amazing people like Kristen Oaks,” McMakin said. But McMakin said he does not have political aspirations for his future. “Running for an office of this size is very tough, not only on me, but my family, friends, the candidates, supporters, and I do not see myself putting those people through this again,” McMakin said. Robertson and Bates said the 13-vote victory shows an important lesson: every vote counts. And even though the race is over, they said their work has only just begun. “We have laid the foundation of getting elected, and we are ready to build from the ground up,” Robertson said. Robertson said is he glad the students gave him and Bates the opportunity to take the fight further. But Robertson made it clear they are not finished rallying student support. He said having a conversation with as many students possible is important to let the students know the issues their student body leaders plan to address. Bates said she had no idea the winning margin would be so small. “It just shows that the tactics that we did worked for both parties,” Bates said. “But it also shows there are a lot of people who still didn’t vote for us, and we still have more people to talk to.” Of 6,655 total students who voted in the presidential and vice presidential runoff, Robertson-Bates received 3,334 votes and Dixon-Oaks trailed with 3,321 votes. Compared to this past week’s general election, 270 less students voted. Curtis White of “Vision 2008” beat Aaron Phipps of “The Foundation” for the third University Court justice position. White received 54.5 percent of the vote, and Phipps finished with 45.5 percent. White will work with University Court Justices Jessica Chatelain and Parker Maxwell of “Vision 2008” who won the student vote in the general election. All University Court justices will denounce their former ticket affiliations once inaugurated. “Vision 2008” also swept the race for Manship School of Mass Communication treasurer. Kat Ingram won with 56.7 percent, while “The Foundation” ticket’s Caroline Barnes finished with 43.3 percent. But “The Foundation” was victorious for Manship College Council president. Joe Coussan defeated Michael Laborde of “Vision 2008” with 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent, respectively. For the University Court justice race, 5,603 students voted. The Mass Communication treasurer race saw 252 student votes, and 246 students voted for Mass Communication College Council president. SG President Cassie Alsfeld echoed McMakin’s sentiments about voter turnout. “We had a tremendous turnout, and I think that in itself is a testament to both Student Government and the people coming into Student Government,” Alsfeld said.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]