CONNECT wins ASUN election

After a day of last-minute campaigning – and an evening filled with nervous hand-wringing – members of the CONNECT party can relax: The party walked away Wednesday with 66 percent of the votes in the 2009 Association of Students of the University of Nebraska election.

Headed by students Megan Collins, Brian Coburn and Amanda Crook, CONNECT beat out two other parties, CONCRETE and the Party of Hope and Change, in a voting year whose turnout trumped 2008's.

16.7 percent of eligible voters participated, or 3,615 out of 21,662 students. In 2008, that figure was 13.3 percent.

The rise may have something to do with a new voting format: 2009 saw the first time voting in ASUN elections took place entirely online.

Marlene Beyke, director of administration for ASUN, and Emily Zimmer, current ASUN president who watched the vote-counting process out of curiosity, agreed the process ran smoothly. Few students called in with questions, Beyke said.

"It went off without a hitch," Zimmer said.

Selecting the next triad of top ASUN executives wasn't the only item facing students on the online form.

Students sent a message on how they feel about raising student fees to finance major building and renovation projects at the East Campus Recreation Center, the University Health Center and the City Campus Rec Center.

They like the idea of changes – students voted 2,530 to 877 expressing interest in the City Campus Recreation Center getting revamped, an entirely new East Campus Recreation and University Health Centers being built.

But by a margin of four votes, students voted against a fee increase of $80 per semester to finance the changes.

When it came to seats in the Committee for Fees Allocation, ASUN Senate and department advisory boards, CONNECT swept the board. Just one CONNECT member failed to make a majority: Matthew Boring of CONCRETE got 59 votes to CONNECT's Corinne Wardian's 45 for the senate seat in the Hixon-Lied College of Fine & Performing Arts.

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The party started around 8 p.m. at Lazzari's, a local pizza shop. CONNECT campaign funds purchased more than a dozen pizzas for friends and family.

As the evening went on, Collins, a senior business administration major who ran for president with the party, moved about the room, Blackberry Curve in hand. "False alarms" kept the group of about 40 on its toes, waiting for ASUN's Electoral Commissioner Kristen Koch, a first-year law student, to call Collins with results.

The call didn't come until 9:45.

Friends predicted Collins would shriek at the news, but the victorious presidential candidate was calm: outside on the patio, Collins listened carefully to the voice on the other end, a big smile finally betraying the results.

"We're in," Collins said, hanging up. "Whatever it is, we're in."

The group watching intently through the glass cheered as Collins and running mates Brian Coburn, a junior biochemistry major; and Amanda Crook, a junior political science major; headed back inside and gave brief thank-you speeches.

Coburn said the group would begin preparing for its administration next week.

"We've got a lot of work to do," he said. "I'm going to try to get a little bit of sleep tonight."

Crook expressed happiness for fellow CONNECT members who won spots on the ASUN Senate and Committee for Fee Allocation.

"We really put a lot of hope behind them," Crook said.

Collins' younger sister, 17 year old Laura, said watching her big sister's involvement in politics inspires her to follow a similar path.

"She's always been my biggest role model," Laura said. "Her class, her humility, teamwork – everything is just who I want to be. Everything she does, she leads it. I can't imagine a better person running ASUN."

As for Collins herself? The one word that kept recurring through the night was "excited."

"I'm so excited for CONNECT," Collins said. "I know there are challenges ahead, but I'm so excited to work with this group of amazing leaders. I can't think of a better team."

Vote totals

President and internal vice president candidates: Collins/Coburn win 

• Collins/Coburn (CONNECT) - 2093
• Mellgren/Ledford (CONCRETE) - 611
• Lacy/Goodwin (Hope and Change) - 471

External vice president candidates: Crook wins

• Crook (CONNECT) - 2376
• Ng (Hope and Change) - 564

Constitutional amendment to elect all three ASUN executive members on same slate: Failed (needed 66 percent of vote to pass)

• Yes - 1567
• No - 1142

Wellness referendum to fund enhancements for rec center and health center: Failed

• Yes - 1688
• No - 1692

Want to read the full text that was on this year's ballots? Visit ASUN's Web site.