Slate sweeps polls, fitness center loses

Sakala, We’ll Do It 2000 win ASI seats

Geoff Sakala couldn’t believe his ears.

He stood still for a moment, the expression on his face hard to decipher.

First came exhaustion, then a humbled look and finally, elation.

“I can’t begin to describe the range of feelings I’m having right now,” said Sakala. “We have been promising the students of CSUS that we’ll do it, and tonight we did it.”

The results of the 1999 ASI elections had just been announced.

Sakala and the entire We’ll Do It 2000 slate were swept into the winners’ circle last Wednesday night.

The slate ran on a platform of increasing campus life, improving student services, and ensuring academic quality. Every member of the slate won his or her respective office.

“I’ve been around a long time, and I can’t remember a landslide like this before,” said Carol Ackerson, ASI executive director.

Celebrating with hugs and smiles were the winners of the other executive offices: Sean South, the new vice president of university affairs, Jacob Armstrong, vice president for finance and Jason Bryant, executive vice president.

“I’m proud of this group,” said Jason Bryant, executive vice president-elect. “We all have similar goals, and I am looking forward to bringing serious changes and improvements to this campus.”

A record-breaking number of students turned out to vote, with 2,637 of 23,167 eligible students, or 11.4 percent voting.

Only 8.1 percent, or 1,917 students, voted last year.

“The 30-percent increase in voters can be attributed to the serious issues facing this campus. Students are the main patrons of this university, and I’m glad to see the increased turnout at the polls,” said Gary Davis, current ASI president.

“Words can’t begin to express how proud I am of this group,” said Davis. “They have the goal of improving all aspects of this campus, and I truly believe they will make significant change.”

Also announced Wednesday night were the winners of the eight director positions.

Megan Kenobbie, director of business administration-elect, received the highest voting percentage with a 65.1-percent yes vote. Jeremy Brickner, currently the director of undeclared students, was elected director of postbaccalaureate students with a yes vote of 45.9 percent. Lane Kasselman will be the new director of arts and letters, winning with a 45.2-percent yes vote.

Facing three other candidates, Derek Minnema emerged as director of engineering and computer sciences, with 28.7 percent of the yes vote. Crystal Swearingen will be the director of health and human services with 57.3 percent voting yes for her. Strati Vourakis, director of undeclared students, and David Sean Duncan, director of natural sciences and mathematics, were uncontested in their positions and approved at 76.4 percent and 76.0 percent respectively. Christopher Missick, director of social sciences and interdisciplinary studies-elect, was elected with a yes vote of 37.5 percent.

Additionally, Timothy Cochrane and David Murillo were elected to the University Union board of directors. Their positions were also uncontested.

No candidates filed for the position of director of education. This position will be filled by appointment next semester.

Although competition was fierce for most offices, opposing candidates were able to congratulate each other for a tough race.

“This experience has certainly humbled me. Albright was an outstanding competitor with outstanding ideas for this campus,” said Lane Kasselman, director-elect of arts and letters.

Kasselman’s opponent, Charles Albright, was optimistic about the future of ASI and plans to remain involved.

“We promised each other that we would incorporate the others ideas into the board of directors,” said Albright. “I’m looking forward to working with Lane to improve the academic quality of CSUS.”

Students split on fee referendums

Students split the vote on the two fee increase referendums.

With a shaky hand, ASI President Gary Davis read the outcome of the referendum vote to a crowd of about 50 students gathered in the Redwood Room at exactly 9:58 p.m. last Wednesday.

“Referendum two passed. Referendum one,” he paused. “No.”

Students voted yes, 53 to 46 percent, for Referendum #2, a $2.50 subscription fee for the State Hornet. Referendum # 1, a $90 student fee for a fitness and recreation center on campus, received a 57.3-percent no vote.

“It was the will of the students that it didn’t pass,” said Davis. “They just weren’t ready.”

Davis said that he was still committed to seeing a recreation center built at CSUS.

“The next board will definitely have a big brother looking over their shoulder to make this happens next year,” he said. “Now it’s time to go out and get community dollars to make this happen. Referendums this big usually don’t pass the first time,” he said.

“They worked really hard,” said Carol Ackerson, ASI executive director, of the fitness and recreation task force. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it came back again next year.”

The university has not said whether it will put forward an alternative plan to build a sports arena on campus. Judith Davidson, the former athletics director, is in charge of the fundraising effort for the arena.

The referendum for the State Hornet did pass with 53.5 percent voting yes.

“I’m glad it’s over,” said a relieved John Montgomery, editor-in-chief of the Hornet. “This gives the paper the long-term support it needs to start the next 50 years.”

Now students will pay a subscription fee of $2.50 a semester as part of their tuition. The fee ensures that the State Hornet will not have to ask ASI and the university administration for money in the future.

“The Hornet will be completely independent for the first time,” said Sylvia Fox, State Hornet faculty advisor. “What an incredible legacy for this staff to leave.”

As for Davis, his dreams of leaving the legacy of a fitness center will have to wait another year.”

“We did the best job we could,” said Davis. “We have no regrets.”