Vote totals:
Atlas 1,631- 46 percent
Cardinal Direction 1,456- 41 percent
Momentum 445- 13 percent
Source: @BallStateSGA
Voter turnout:
2015: 3,532
2014: 2,871
2013: 4,985
2012: 2,199
After waiting for about a half-hour in the Multicultural Center, President of Atlas Jack Hesser received a call just after 5:30 p.m. from Elections Board Chair Zach Huffman. Hesser had a serious expression.
Once he hung the phone, Hesser looked to everyone in the room and said, “We won.” The entire room erupted with excitement and screams.
Atlas beat out second-place Cardinal Direction by 175 votes with a total of 1,631, according to a press release from the Student Government Association elections board.
Current SGA president Nick Wilkey said he thought there would be a tighter gap between Atlas and Cardinal Direction.
There were a total of 3,532 votes in the election and Atlas won 46 percent of them. Within the last four elections, this year’s had the second-highest voter turnout rate for the Student Government Association elections. The 2013 elections saw a turnout of 2,871.
“I’m overwhelmed, excited, anxious,” Hesser said, “I’m excited to give back to the students.”
Vice President Richu Aby said she is happy with the opportunity to take on her leadership role.
“At this point, what’s important is being with people you love and in a community you love,” she said. “Can’t wait to take Ball State somewhere new.”
Secretary Meagan Mullen was also overwhelmed with emotion.
“I‘m so emotionally charged right now and really excited to see what we can do next year,” she said.
Secretary Austin Acel said the student body saw the passion the slate had for Ball State.
Cardinal Direction came in at second place with 1,456 votes.
The slate members and their supporters were gathered in the main room at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house where President Jacob Cash is a member.
When the results came in and they found out they lost by 5 percent, the room went silent and they began to console one another.
“I’m disappointed and hurt, I felt like we had the best slate," said treasurer Destinee Burrel.
Cash said he would continue to be a student senator and serve the university.
“We’re all leaders, so we’re going to stay leaders,” Cash said. “We’re going to keep pushing.”
Momentum came in at third with 445 votes, which was 13 percent of the votes.
“That is kind of embarrassing,” treasurer Dayna Arnett said.
President Quintin Thompson said they would continue trying to accomplish their platform points even though they had lost.
“After spring break, Bonu and I will meet to work on our international buddy system and our points will not die,” Thompson said.
Leading up to the election, the race saw multiple code violations. Atlas was fined $50 and Cardinal Direction a total of $300.
“There is always going to be violations, that will always happen no matter what occurs,” Huffman said.
He said this year’s code violations were not as severe as in previous elections.
“These weren’t anything that would defame someone or do something bad,” he said, “They did break the election code but they weren’t very substantial.”
Atlas will be inaugurated at a ceremony in April.
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