Tolsen elected ASUSU president
The crowd stood applauding and cheering Wednesday as Tyler Tolsen was announced student body president for the 2009-2010 academic school year. Tolsen won with 2,124 votes, about 56 percent of total votes.
Before the results were announced Tolsen said he felt ready, exhausted and nervous. He felt that he and Nils Nelson had run excellent campaigns and that whichever way the numbers fell, the student body would be in good hands. When the results were announced in the TSC Ballroom and Tolsen took the stage, his remarks were brief and he started by congratulating his opponent.
“First and foremost I want a round of applause for Nils Nelson,” Tolsen said, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. Tolsen then thanked all those that voted and expressed his excitement for the coming year.
“I look forward to working with all of you,” Tolsen said. “Let’s have a great year next year.”
Winners for the Academic Senate were: Ben Croshaw, president; Landon Essig, business senator; Josie Olsen, HASS senator; Todd Redmon, science senator; John Rentschler, natural resources senator; Amy Peterson, agriculture senator; Erik Wynn, education senator; and Andrew Hobson, engineering senator.
For the Graduate Student Senate, the winners were: Rick Kelly, president; Stephanie Malin, HASS; Nora Burbank, natural resources; Jessie Walker, science; Probuddah Gosh, international; G. Dustin McEwen, engineering; Aaron Davis, research; Keith Wilson, campus affairs; McKaylie Kartchner, education; and Mike Young, business.
Other winners for the Executive Council included: Spencer Lee, executive vice president; Jeremy Winn, athletics vice president; Tyler Haws, student advocate; Krista Bustamonte, campus diversity and organizations vice president; Erin Reeder, programming vice president; and David Knighton, service vice president.
On the issue of the proposed fee increase for Aggie Blue Bikes, the motion passed in favor of Blue Bikes with 2,897 votes; roughly 77 percent of the total.
“It’s been a great year for voter turnout,” said Jackson Olsen, current executive vice president.
Overall, Olsen said he was very pleased with this year’s campaigns and election. There were more votes cast in this year’s primary than last year’s final election by nearly double.
“All the candidates were cordial, the campaigns ran smoothly and everyone did a fine job,” Olsen said. “I think in total there were only one or two hiccups.”
After the results were read, Tolsen said he felt almost overwhelmed.
“The excitement, it’s hitting me now,” he said.
–b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu