8 elected as Union Board directors

Voters returned to the polls Tuesday to elect eight new members of the Indiana Memorial Union Board directors. Candidates elected were junior Vaughn Allen, freshman Tiawanda Avant, junior Tristan Dee, junior Meg DeTore, junior Martin Gimenez, junior Chris Neumeyer, junior Andy Proctor and junior LaTasha Swanson. \nSixteen directors will be selected in all. The remaining eight are chosen in a selection process that takes place today. Candidates not elected will undergo an interview process, and a board of eight students from various organizations will vote for the most qualified candidates.\n"It's important to vote because they govern our campus and provide many programs for students to be involved in," said Lisa Deutch, a sophomore. "I wasn't too informed about the candidates ... though." \nThere were no candidates standing beside the polls for last minute campaigning, but there were sheets posted at each poll explaining candidates' platforms.\n"There's really no reason for students to be uninformed about the election," said junior Christopher Smith, a current director and poll worker on election day. "There were speeches on the platforms at the IMUG last night. You do run into the whole apathy thing, though."\nPolls were staffed mostly by current Union Board directors and committee members. Candidates were not permitted to take ballots.\n"Our goal is getting people to see the importance of electing directors," said junior Stacy Kaplowitz, director and poll worker. She said there was no peak time for votes, but they were coming in gradually. In one hour the Ballantine booth had 40 ballots.\n"It's important for everyone to vote because we get a certain amount of the activity fee that every student pays," said junior Katherine Ruddick, a director and poll worker. We do a program and they have a say in what is done and voting is their way of participating and making their voice heard." \nFour hundred and twenty-nine students voted. Ballots with more than eight candidates selected were not counted. Union Board President Mike Gosman, a senior, said overall voter turnout was not the best ever, but it was also not the worst. He said he was glad students had the right to voice their opinions.\n"It's great to give students the opportunity to vote," Gosman said. "You want everyone to be happy and involved. Doing it one way or the other, by just voting or only selection, I feel would not produce as strong or well-rounded Union Board." \nAllen, one of the newly elected directors, said he is optimistic about Union Board's future.\n"I am really excited about experiencing directorship knowing a little more than I did last year," Allen said. "We've got an excellent group of candidates, and it's going to be exciting to see this board gel. There are some big ideas for Union Board's role on campus, and it will be interesting to see them all come together"