The election results are in, and the Student Association’s switch to online voting seems to have paid off. Voter turnout more than doubled this year, with 3,453 total campus votes this year compared to 1,532 cast in 2012.
Eric Larson, a junior majoring in economics, received just over 57 percent of the vote for president of the 2013-14 Student Association executive board.
Samson Widerman, a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, won executive vice president with 69.32 percent of the vote.
Ravi Prakriya, a sophomore majoring in management, was elected vice president for finance. He ran unopposed.
Derrick Conyers, a junior majoring in political science, was elected vice president of academic affairs with 52.54 percent of the vote.
Mariana Moriello, a junior majoring in anthropology, won vice president for programming, receiving just over 49 percent of the vote, but doubling the totals of either of her competitors.
Isis McIntosh, was elected vice president of multicultural affairs, with 54.12 percent of the vote.
Students voted in favor of the new SA Constitution with a resounding 80.27 percent of the vote.
Students also voted in favor of a $3 increase to the student activity fee, raising it from $92.50 to $95.50.
Students voted against changing the title of the Vice President for Multicultural Affairs to the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusiveness, but barely. The decision to keep the current name received just seven more votes, edging out the name change 1511 to 1504.
Larson, the current VPF who was elected president for next year, said he is excited to continue his work on the SA E-Board.
“I’m eager to start working towards building a closer campus community and addressing the challenges that will arise over the next year,” Larson said.
Moriello is excited to start planning “amazing events” for the upcoming year.
“I will bring the best artists, comedians, speakers and other entertainers,” Moriello said. “That’s what Binghamton University students deserve for all of their hard work year round.”
Jonathan Ortiz, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, praised the switch to online voting via B-mail because it promoted “paperless technology and ease of access.”
Steve Saltz, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law, agreed that voting was easier this year, but said the student body as a whole still remained largely indifferent.
“I think a lot of people ignore or delete emails from the school or the SA when they see them in their inbox,” he said.