CCSC Elections, 2014
The CCSC elections of 2014 were held on April 2nd through 4th. Columbia College students were allowed to vote for one CCSC executive board party and one University Senator candidate, as well as one or more candidates for several other positions. Also on the ballot were two initiatives involving the Lion Credit Union Initiative and the creation of the Sandwich Ambassador position to CCSC.
Due to election reform policy implemented in 2014 by Daniel Liss, the CCSC Elections Board allowed executive board candidates to run separately, with the exception of President and VP Policy. As a result, both VP Campus Life and class councils had people running as individuals.
The election results also revealed voter turnout: 35% (including ESC), an increase of 25% since the previous year's largely uncontested elections. The turnout also confirmed two largely correct assumptions: freshmen care a lot more about elections than seniors, and CC cares a lot more about elections than SEAS or GS. The CC 2017 Class Council (where only freshmen could vote) had 61% voter turnout, the CC 2015 Class Council (where only juniors could vote) had 50% voter turnout, and the CC exec board (where seniors were eligible voters, in addition to the lower three classes) had 47% voter turnout. ESC turnout ranged from 21% for exec board to 47% for ESC 2017 class council. GSSC had 19% voter turnout.
Contents
Candidates
CCSC President and VP Policy
2014 was a squaring-off between two exec parties: Peter Bailinson and Sejal Singh's TAP party (which they assure you has nothing to do with the Sachems), and Loxley Bennett and Mandeep Singh's Insight party. Bailinson had previously VP Communications, and Bennett Student Services Representative. Sejal and Mandeep were both new to CCSC, but not to policy. Notably, Bailinson ran for CCSC President as a sophomore.
Debates largely focused on finance and the CCSC budget.[1]Both VP Finance candidates arguably had the necessary experience, but Insight's Michael Li seemed better. Independent VP Campus Life candidate Mary Joseph was questioned about not having been on the Campus Life Committee since her sophomore year, though her position as Pre-Professional Rep put her on the Policy Committee instead. Spec endorsed Bailinson, Sejal, Li, Ren, and Porter.[2] The Lion endorsed Bailinson, Sejal, Li, Ren, and Alexander. Bwog issued no endorsements for this race.
In the end, Bailinson and Sejal won with 1037 votes (57%), defeating Bennett and Mandeep (743 votes, 41%). 53 students (3%) voted for a write-in candidate.
VP Finance
Insight's Michael Li (Class of 2015 President) defeated TAP's Liam Bland (CC 2015 rep), 50-46. Li was the only member of his party to win their respective elections.
VP Campus Life
TAP's Andrew Ren (a newcomer from ABC) defeated Insight's Sarah Yee (Class of 2016 rep) and independent candidate Mary Joseph (Pre-Professional rep) 38-36-24. Yee remained on the appointed Campus Life Committee afterward.
VP Communications
TAP's Abby Porter (CC 2017 rep) defeated Insight's Sheila Alexander (also a CC 2017 rep) 60-37.
Other observations
Bailinson's victory as a sophomore opened up the possibility of him running for a second term, or for senior class president, in 2015.
University Senate
Five candidates ran for the University Senate: two-time Class President and Senate staffer Ramis Wadood, Alumni Affairs rep Daniel Liss, and CCSC newcomers Daniel Stone, Michael MacKay, and Jacob Johnson. The debates were kind of a shitshow.[3]. Spec and Bwog endorsed Wadood.[4] The Lion endorsed Stone, an ex-staffer. Wadood beat Liss, Stone, MacKay, and Johnson 49-14-14-11-9. 3% voted for a write-in.
At-Large Positions
Academic Affairs Representative: Grayson Warrick Alumni Affairs Representative: Matthew Forrest CCSC Student Services Representatives (2): Charles Sanky and Chris Godshall CCSC Pre-Professional Representative: Chris George
Ballot Initiatives
The LCUI initiative passed 86-14. The Sandwich Ambassador initiative passed 88-12.
