Student Government elections concluded on Nov. 13 with a highly contested 27-candidate race for Senate. The 20 students selected for office will serve through the 2013-2014 academic year.
This semester’s batch of hopeful senators marked one of the largest candidate pools in USF St. Petersburg history. Brandon Garbett, director of marketing and communications for SG, explained that the need for senators was marketed heavier this year compared to previous elections. Senate recruiters persuaded potential candidates by emphasizing SG’s inclusiveness and low-pressure atmosphere.
“We try to be very laid back,” Garbett said. “We try to understand the students. I mean, we are representing them.”
Each candidate had one week to campaign his or her name to the USFSP community. Some campaigners attempted to persuade students with colorful chalk drawings sketched on the campus sidewalks.
“This is probably some of the craziest amount of chalking I’ve ever seen,” Garbett said. Winning candidates Jared Pieniazek and Catherine Clifton received recognition for their elaborate and amusing chalk drawings.
Clifton, a freshman and current SG deputy attorney general, felt passionate about her role as a decision maker. She strived for her senator title by creating T-shirts, flyers and stickers displaying her name.
“I really went all out for sure,” Clifton said. “I just did it for the fun, mainly.”
Many candidates used social media websites like Twitter and Instagram to reach out to potential supporters. Candidates like freshman Juan Salazar campaigned virally through
Facebook posts.
“I used the Know-It-All page on Facebook,” said Salazar, whose use of the pun ‘Juan is
number Juan,’ and similar posts, drew him 127 votes, the fourth highest count.
For two days, students voted either in the University Student Center Regatta Room or online through PeteSync on Nov. 12 and 13. After the ballots of 278 students were collected, 20 new SG senators were announced.
Candidates with the highest number of votes included freshman Dan Nguyen with 168 votes and sophomore Andrew Defraties with 153 votes.
Another winning candidate, Blake Shay, found it easy to get involved in the election. “I like that I’m in a small community,” Shay said. “It’s not hard to get noticed at all.”
This election’s ballot consisted of many freshman names with a few sophomores and juniors.
“I’m hoping that the current Student Government members can lead the freshmen, but the freshman can also have their own ideas,” Garbett said.
Most of the new senators already have their own ideas on how to improve the school and campus community.
Sen. Shay wants to install water fountains in the USC. Sen. Salazar suggested the idea of a nap room for commuters. Many SG members, Clifton included, are focused on heavier event planning and raising awareness of SG activities. There overall goal, however, will be addressing the needs of USFSP students.
“We need people who can lead but also people who can understand,” Garbett said. “We need students who can represent other students.”
27 students ran for Senate
20 senators were elected
278 votes were cast
168 voted for Dan Nguyen,
who received the most votes
