Thrapp elected next president, ARC fee passes
Christian Thrapp was announced as the new ASUSU executive president for the 2012-2013 year at Thursday’s results assembly.
“This has just been an incredible experience, and now it almost feels surreal,” Thrapp said of his victory.
After a week of debates, Thrapp claimed the title with 2,396 votes to fellow candidate Hannah Blackburn’s 2,080 votes.
Ben Wilson was elected executive vice president, winning with 2,386 votes versus Abigail Kingsford’s 1,717.
“I’m just most excited to get to work and do my best to serve the students at Utah State University,” Wilson said.
The proposed Aggie Recreation Center and respective student fee increase passed by 134 votes with 2,586 votes in favor of it and 2,452 against.
Beginning fall semester 2012, students will be required to pay an additional $25 in student fees every semester until 2015 to fund artificial turf that will replace the grass on the HPER Field. At the recreation center’s expected opening fall of 2015, students can expect a $75 per-semester fee to pay for the building.
Also passed last evening was the USU constitutional amendment dissolving the Graduate Student Senate and providing more representation for students on regional campuses and students involved in distance education.
Kellen Hansen, campaigning for the programming vice president position, was beaten by Chaise Warr with a 140-vote difference between the two.
Jordan Hunt was elected next year’s Academic Senate vice president and Karson Kalian is the new Athletics vice president.
Mariana Ochoa was elected Diversity and Organizations vice president over Tasi Taylor, and Christian Orr was elected as student advocate over Anthony Pratt.
Jeremy Nef claimed the title of Service vice president over Kyle Niedrich.
Sophomore Emily Esplin said she was excited to hear the results of the campaign and the success of the ARC plan.
“I’m really excited about it,” she said. “I think there are great things to come for next year out of these new elected officers.”
“What’s great about this is that we have the opportunity now to move forward, that we have this opportunity as a student body to unite, to reach out to those who feel disconnected from ASUSU and from the university, bring them in and make this university an even greater place. We’re going to work our hardest for you,” she said.
– ariwrees@gmail.com