The “Project Rebirth: Bridging the gap. Bringing the agenda back” campaign swept the 2006 Black Student Union election Wednesday night at the African-American Cultural Center.
Alex Frilot, African-American studies sophomore, was voted president with running mate Ada Goodly, international studies senior, as vice president and Westley Bayas, political science senior, as treasurer.
Candace Brisco, kinesiology freshman, ran unopposed for secretary.
Derrick Petit, political science and history junior and presidential candidate, was disqualified before the election results were announced.
Ralph Johnson, election committee chair, said the BSU election code forbids candidates from campaigning within 25 feet of the entrance of University buildings.
Petit said on April 2, all three presidential candidates campaigned in front of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
Johnson said Petit was campaigning inside of the building but argued he was still 25 feet away from the actual entrance.
Before the disqualification, Petit had 110 votes and Frilot had 109 votes, each with 40 percent of the vote. Edwards received 20 percent with 54 votes.
Since neither Frilot nor Petit had a majority, the election committee tabulated the run-off results by calculating voters’ second place choices.
On election day, voters were asked to number their choices from one to three.
Frilot won with 52 percent of the second-choice votes.
While Petit said he was disappointed the election committee didn’t side with him, he carried no bitter feelings.
“I’m disappointed,” Petit said. “I’d like to see my agenda carried out, but our agendas are like night and day.”
Johnson said the election committee voted 5-to-0 to disqualify Petit after he argued his case.
Johnson said Petit impugned the election committee by calling them biased.
Johnson said he was “heated” by Petit’s arguments and that his actions have “shown his character.”
Frilot’s administration said they are ready to start planning for next fall.
Frilot said her first project will be a clean-up of New Orleans.
“I’m feeling confident about next year,” Frilot said. “I have a lot of support. There are more people working with me which will decrease the work load.”
Johnson said this election had the second-highest voter turnout since 2001.
This year 273 students voted. Last year only 172 students voted.
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]