The Nominations and Elections Committee announced the results of the freshmen elections last night in what was described as the most contentious student government election in recent history.
After an hour of hearing two violations cases and nearly two hours of deliberation, the NEC named the new Freshman Class Board -- President Andy Kaplan, Vice President Tony Inguaggiato, Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship Tammy Bockow, Secretary Georgiana Cavendish, Treasurer Sebastien Hutchinson, College Representatives Sam Lee and Nassar Farid Mufdi Ruiz, Wharton Representative Stefon Burns and Engineering Representative Jared Bernheim. Because there was a tie in the race for Nursing Representative, Christine Becer and Katie Prada will face each other in a run-off election.
In addition to Cavendish, Ruiz and Inguaggiato -- who were also elected to the UA, Bren Darrow, Weston Gaddy, Shakirah Simley, Ignacio Du Quesne and Jon Cho will be the newest representatives to join the UA.
As the highest vote-getter with 350 votes, Cho, a College freshman, will also serve as a freshman representative on the University Council.
However, earlier in the evening, he was disqualified from the race for vice president of the Class Board.
"I'm very happy about being elected to the UA," he said, "and it was a nice surprise to also have the UC seat."
"But I was really hoping to be elected to help plan social events for the freshman class," Cho added.
He was disqualified because of a charge brought against him by Inguaggiato, a College freshman.
After reading over the Fair Practices Code, Cho learned that he was not allowed to "campaign" before Sept. 25. But because he introduced himself to fellow freshmen in Hill College House's dining hall as a candidate for the vice president position, he was found in violation of the FPC.
Citing the Webster's dictionary definition of "campaign," Cho claimed that he was only making a declaration, not a solicitation, of who he was and what he was running for. The hearing also took a dramatic turn when Cho raised questions about Inguaggiato's motives, citing prior animosity between the two.
Inguaggiato would not comment on the results of the FPC.
Additionally, College freshman Virgilio Aquino -- an acquaintance of Inguaggiato -- accused Cho of violating the FPC by campaigning before legally permitted to do so. However, this charge was dropped since Aquino did not show up to the meeting.
Nursing and Wharton freshman Randy Tang also brought a charge against Wharton freshman Nick Ravlin for "dirty campaigning."
"Nick sent an e-mail to a number of students that told them to vote for him because he is in Wharton -- and is therefore 'better qualified to deal with corporations' -- whereas I am in Nursing," Tang said. "Someone who looks down upon another school should not be representing a class."
"Little does he realize, I am also in Wharton," he added.
Eventually, however, this violation made no difference, as Ravlin was found not guilty of violating the FPC, and neither student won the position.
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