On a day that honored presidents, Saint Louis University students decided who would become their student government president for the 2000-2001 school year.

The only choices on the ballot were the “Focus on the Future” ticket, comprised of Jay Perry, Lauren Gretz, Dane Salazar, Becky Shelby and Chad Kreikemeier, and a write-in slot. The write-in slot brought a strong, last-minute push by “Concerned Students for SLU Wrestling” candidate Kenny Kraft and his Wrestling Party ticket.

Five hundred sixty-seven students voted to place their confidence in “Focus on the Future,” giving Perry and his ticket the win.

Kraft picked up 213 votes, which surprised members of the election committee.

“Everyone was amazed by how many votes he actually had,” said Emily Ebsworth, election committee chairperson. Kraft began his campaign for the presidency no more than 48 hours prior to election day.

“We thought about it for a while, but I didn’t think I was eligible to run because I wasn’t a senator, and I thought you had to be a senator if you wanted to run for president,” Kraft said.

Any members of an executive board of a chartered student organization are eligible to run for president. “I’m the secretary of Oriflamme, so that night I decided to run,” Kraft said.

Despite this effort Kraft did not rally enough support in the hours that he had to campaign.

As a ticket “Focus on the Future” beat the “Concerned Students for SLU Wrestling” party by 533 votes, not to mention 139 which Perry had received alone.

“Jay Perry seemed to have his stuff more together than [Kraft], and it seems that you should be prepared if you are going to run for president of SGA,” said student Crystal Hofner.

Prior to the election, some students around campus voiced concern about the fact that Perry had no competition. The only opposition Perry faced was less than 24 hours prior to the polls opening.

“The reason Jay Perry is running unopposed is because he has done such a good job,” said College of Arts and Sciences student John Worth. “He has accomplished or is working on everything he promised.”

The lack of candidates is one reason believed to have kept Continued From Page One

students away from the polls this year. Last year the candidates had to rally more support due to the fact that there were more people running against each other. The 1999-2000 election was witness to a variety of flyers and signs, gathering excitement around the campus. However, this year many people were pointing to a general apathy among students, believed to be another reason for the lack of spirit.

SGA advisor Phil Lyons said, “I think there is apathy, but I don’t think that the reason nobody ran against Jay is apathy. Jay is an incumbent, hard to beat because he is an incumbent; and he had a good ticket.”

Ebsworth said that the election process, in general, went smoothly. “We haven’t had many problems-there were just a lot of write in votes to count. That is why it took so long,” Ebsworth said. Usually the polling places are located outside, but due to the chilly weather, they were held indoors.

Despite a lack of debate and an enthusiastic attitude from the students, Perry said he feels confident.

“I’m looking foreward to a lot of things,” Perry said. “For once we’re going to be able to continue on with all the immediate reforms we have begun in the 27th General Assembly. I’m looking very much forward to working with the 28th General Assembly with all the new senators we’re going to have. We’re going to hit the ground running, and just keep going, going, and going, throughout the entire year.”

Next year Perry also plans to look into the tuition increases which will be his “primary concern” next year. Perry, with the rest of the SGA intends to have plans ready for Project SLUnion, the effort for a new student union.

In addition, Perry is laying ground work to reform student e-mail abuses concerning the junk mail which students receive every day. Faculty course rating booklets are also on the agenda.

“The faculty has one way of looking at it and we have another,” Perry said. When asked about plans for the ongoing parking issue, Perry simply said, “That will always be an issue.”

The other members of “Focus on the Future” also seemed enthused.

“I think its time to go to work tomorrow,” said administrative vice president-elect Chad Kreikemeier. “I’m ready to go. There are nothing but high expectations.”