The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

Trespalacios, Malhi win student body elections

From+left+to+right
Christopher Saul / The Daily Campus
From left to right

From left to right (Christopher Saul / The Daily Campus)

After weeks of campaigning, the results for the SMU’s 100th Student Senate are in.

The election results for president, vice president, secretary, and members of the Student Senate were announced Tuesday in the Hughes-Trigg Commons.

 The election polls opened Wednesday at midnight and closed yesterday at 5 p.m.

 A crowd of roughly 100 supporters of assorted candidates gathered in the Hughes-Trigg Commons eagerly awaiting the results, as candidates made their way around the room.

There was free food and refreshments for everyone there.

“I’m feeling nervous, but excited for the student body because whoever they elected will be a great choice,” presidential candidate Ramon Trespalacios said just before the results were announced.

Equally nervous and excited was secretary candidate, Lila Friedlander.

“I’m a bit nervous, but no matter how it turns out I had fun running and I tried,” Friedlander said.

At 5:15 p.m., the winners were announced. The referendum formalizing enrollment guidelines for Student Senate candidates also passed.

Katherine Ladner was re-elected as secretary, while Jaywin Singh Malhi was elected as vice president.

Ramon Trespalacios beat out current Vice President Zane Cavender and Anthony McAuliffe as 2013-2014 Student Body President.

Although some expected a run-off in the three candidate presidential race, no run-off will occur because Trespalacios was elected with over 50 percent of the votes.

“Thank you for your support,” Trespalavios said after the results were announced. “We’re going to be doing a lot of things so I need everyone to get involved and be passionate.”

Cavender was elected as a Dedman II Senator.

Cavender said that while he was disappointed, he was impressed with all the candidates.

“There are a lot of great possibilities, and I am going to do my best to work with incoming senators, incoming officers and working to do what needs to get done,” Cavender said.

Following the election, student senators were announced and the newly-elected Student Senate posed for pictures and congratulated one another.

“I am so excited. Above anything else, I am a Mustang and I am excited to have good communication, foster community and bring some change,” Trespalacios said.

Newly elected Vice President Jaywin Malhi took pictures with friends after the announcement to celebrate his win.

“I’m pretty excited. It’s nice to see that hard work and campaigning pays off,” Malhi said.

“At the end of the day it’s not a popularity contest, but instead people are looking at the candidate and it’s a testament to the school that someone like me was elected.”

Newly elected student body officers and senators will be inaugurated into the 100th Student Senate later this month.

The new senate is expected to focus on communication, community and citizenship – Trespalacios’ platform positions.  

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