FUSION Party looks back on campaign experiences

Don't feel bad for Reid DeSpiegelaere.

The president candidate of the FUSION Party and junior history major said despite the results of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska election, which left his coalition just short of taking the executive seats, the entire campaign process was a success for the entire university.

"This was a victory because I guarantee most of the kids that voted for us have never cared about their student government before or have never voted," DeSpiegelaere said. "We were part of the largest voter turnout in 30 years, and more than anything students find that their vote mattered."

After forcing a runoff in last week's general election, FUSION's president and internal vice president ticket pulled within 204 votes, losing 1554-1250 to N VISION.

Running separately, FUSION's external vice president, Emily Schlichting, lost 1590 to 1297.

The junior political science major said the defeat hurts most because of the amount of time she put into the campaign.

"It is hard to put so much into it, for it not to pan out," Schlichting said.

FUSION met at Yia Yia's Pizza Beer & Wine for the second time in a week to wait out the results. A small contingent was tucked in the back eating pizza when DeSpiegelaere stood up and hurried outside. Huddling in the corner he took the phone call. Kiana Mathew, FUSION's internal vice president candidate and a sophomore agricultural sciences major, and Schlichting joined him outside and watched his reaction.

DeSpiegelaere nodded his head, closed his phone and turned to his compatriots.

"Well, we came up short," DeSpiegelaere said.

The trio combined for a group hug before heading inside to break the news. Standing on a bench and facing a crowd of more than 50 purple-clad supporters, DeSpiegelaere thanked them for their hard work and support. He invited members of the campaign to stand up and discuss what the past several months had meant to them.

After a round of speeches and hugs, the defeated candidate stood up again and challenged his supporters and friends to always follow through on their beliefs. If he hadn't, FUSION might never have existed, he said.

"Don't ever let anyone tell you that your idea isn't worth it," DeSpiegelaere said. "Every miniscule thing has some importance to at least one person in the world."

DeSpiegelaere then told the crowd FUSION doesn't need to end tonight.

"We are going to keep moving," DeSpiegelaere said. "Where there is a will, there is a way. This isn't just a coalition that needed an office; it is a coalition that is going to continue the movement, whether it is ASUN or another endeavor: We will be there."

With the long campaign season now over, all the FUSION executives said their next focus will be on recharging their bodies and recovering during spring break next week.

But everyone agreed that every part of the campaign was worth it. For the members of FUSION, it was gaining friendships on the trail which proved to be the most valuable experience of all.

"I am leaving tonight with six new best friends," Mathew said.

DeSpiegelaere agreed with Mathew, saying the most powerful experience of the campaign was the people in and around it.

"We all stood by each other," he said. "We built a community."

michaelschaefer@dailynebraskan.com