Matthew Norfleet and Desmond Miller won the election for Eastern Michigan University Student Government president and vice president, as reported Thursday night by Student Government.
Norfleet and Miller received 1,143 votes. Their opponents, Josh Lowe and Jake Speck, received 957 votes and David Yanagi and Ryan Roper received 657 votes.
A total of 2,757 students voted, 91 more than last year’s 2,666 turnout.
Current Student Government Vice President, Jeffrey Chicoine, said he was pleased with the increase in voter participation.
“The fact that this threshold was achieved is a credit to all the candidates,” Chicoine said.
Norfleet said he was happy that students were receptive to his and Miller’s platforms.
“We felt like they were appropriate to enhancing the student body’s voice,” he said.
Miller will be the first freshman to be elected into office as Student Government Vice President. Previously, the eligibility guidelines to the office did not permit freshmen to hold office.
“It hasn’t really set in yet,” Miller said. “I’m really excited to show people that I am more than my age.”
Norfleet said he is excited to start working on student town halls so he can communicate directly with students.
“We want feedback,” Norfleet said. “It’s very early planning stages, but we want to hear from the student body.”
Miller said he was eager to reform the annual Fajita Fest.
“I’m ready to make Fajita Fest campus wide,” Miller said. He also intends to lobby for more diverse food options at the event.
In a press release, Current Student Government President Jelani McGadney said he and Vice President Jeffrey Chicoine would help Norfleet and Miller “during the transition to continue the work” of Student Government.
Norfleet said he and Miller were elated by their victory and are “committed to protecting and enhancing the voice of the student body.” They will take office April 29, 2012.
