Thompson, Chopp narrowly win MSA election

In one of the closest Michigan Student Assembly elections in recent years, Students' Party presidential and vice presidential candidates Trent Thompson and Sarah Chopp triumphed over independents Ryan Friedrichs and Al Garcia with a mere 85 votes separating the two slates.

With a record 20 percent of University students participating in the elections, Thompson, an LSA junior, and Chopp, an LSA first-year student, received 1,710 votes to the 1,625 votes cast for LSA junior Friedrichs and LSA sophomore Garcia. Thompson said his victory validated all the effort he put into his campaign.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily LSA junior Trent Thompson and LSA first-year student Sarah Chopp are the new MSA president and vice president.

"It's something I've been working really hard for," Thompson said. "There's a lot to be done in the next year. I was happy and unhappy at the same time because Ryan lost."

Friedrichs, who refused the financial backing of the Students' Party and Michigan Party, said he did not regret running as an independent, even if it cost him the election.

"Everyone told me I couldn't win without accepting the Students' Party offer or forming a party of my own," Friedrichs said. "In the end, it comes down to finding an idea you truly believe in, holding on to it when things get tough, and losing with it if you have to. Even if I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing."

Thompson and Chopp owe their victory in part to the support of the Greek community, said Interfraternity Council President Bradley Holcman.

"We supported Trent and that made a big difference," Holcman said. "We got the word out. The brothers knew that Trent was a Greek. It's nice to have a president in MSA who is a Greek and who will help to get the Greek community more involved."

The first order of business for the newly elected leaders of the governing student body will be to create a sense of community in the assembly, Thompson said. An MSA retreat is in the planning stages to ensure that the assembly shares common ideas and goals.

"I want to find out what other people's aspirations and plans are," Thompson said. "I've already spoken to and e-mailed people who've been elected."

New Frontier Party candidates Elizabeth Keslacy and Michael Enright came in third place in the presidential race with 318 votes, followed by independents Ferris Hussein and Nick Pavlis with 239 votes.

Hussein said his independent candidacy for MSA may have cost Friedrichs the presidency.

"We definitely took some of their votes," Hussein said. "I think if there wasn't another independent slate, Friedrichs would have won. We should get a (gift) basket from the Students' Party."

In addition to the presidential elections, students were asked to approve an MSA fee increase of $4 to $5, to be used to gather signatures for a statewide ballot asking Michigan voters to support installing a student on the University Board of Regents.

Students voted "yes" to the first question, thereby approving a $4-fee increase, and no to the last two questions, rejecting a possible $4.50 and $5 raise. Bram Elias, co-chair of the Student Regent Task Force, said he was extremely pleased with the results of the elections.

"The results are wonderful," Elias said. "I think the students have told MSA they want a student regent and they don't want MSA to waste money."

LSA first-year student Vikram Sarma, a newly elected MSA representative, said his victory was a "bittersweet moment" because of Friedrichs and Garcia's loss. His major goal will be to concentrate MSA's attention on getting the job done.

03-23-98