The FAMU student body elections are finally over three weeks after the first ballots were cast. Marissa West and Michael Jefferson won the positions of student body president and vice-president, respectively.“Thank you all for your support,” West wrote on her Twitter page. “This has been a true victory for the student body. Michael and I are ready to serve!”
The Student Government Association general election took place on Feb. 21. The results were: Marissa West & Michael Jefferson (939), Justin McCorvey & Ariana Williams (864), Anthony Siders & Sean Siders (404).
Even though candidates West and Jefferson won the most votes in the three-way race, they did not cross the 50 percent mark. The Electoral Commission did not hold a runoff because it had disqualified the two remaining tickets.
The disqualified tickets filed an appeal with Vice-President for Student Affairs William Hudson, Jr. He found that the Electoral Commission violated the statutes by using an unapproved a point-system to disqualify the McCovery/Williams and Siders/Siders tickets. Hudson also said a run-off election was required because the rules require a ticket to receive a majority vote (50 percent + 1) before it can be certified as the official election winner.
West will become the first woman to represent the FAMU student body on the university Board of Trustees since Monique Gillum.