Beaird/Poole win SGA presidential election

The votes are in and the ballots have been counted. ASU-J Student Government Association President for the 2008-2009 school year is Ryan Beaird.

This year 948 votes were cast for SGA president, and with 568 votes, Beaird beat the opposition by 188 votes. Kayla Bruce received 380 votes.

"I am excited beyond words," said the newly elected president. "Quan (Quan Poole, the new vice-president) and I are so grateful for all of those who contributed their time and efforts towards the campaign."

According to Tommy Wyatt, who has handled ASU-J polling sites for many years, said the voting was constant on both days. "Delightfully, the students seemed very interested in the Student Government," said Wyatt.

Wyatt likes to be involved in many things at ASU, and when she heard about the opportunity to work at the polling site, she definitely wanted to do it. "Not knowing many students that well, it was a bit difficult to foretell who would win. Students gave their support for the candidate they knew," she said.

Voters were looking for someone who could best represent them and what was most important to them.

Physical Education major James Bickham from Jonesboro voted for Beaird and Poole. "They will work to fix the Greek system," Bickham said. Bickham feels they know what is going on at ASU when it comes to students. "They will be good for the school overall," added Bickham.

Though Bruce and her running mate Alex Ingram didn't win, students that voted for them felt that they could bring a significant change to the campus.

"I felt like they can accomplish more," said Crystal Hill, communications disorders major from North Little Rock, said after voting Tuesday. "I know them personally, and I trust they can get things done," said Hill. She expected them to do everything their campaign said they would, especially things that concern parking services and text book taxation.

Beaird is all ready to begin his presidency and prepared to listen to any students no matter what the issue may be. "Our eyes and ears are already open to the comments and concerns of the student body," said Beaird. "We cannot wait to start serving ASU."

Along with the new president and vice-president, students also voted for the new SGA Legislation. The new senior senators are Ikemba Baloga, Chase Callahan, E.J. Carey, and Joseph Rhodes. The junior senators are Anne Marie Cason, Kiel Smith, Ashton Snowden, and Candace Watkins. The sophomore senators are Jessica Nash and James Sawyer. The new college senators are Corey Platt for Agriculture, Brandon Allen for Business, Yana- Janell Scott for Communications, Dennis Felton for Education, Chaz Allen for Fine Arts, Johnathan Martin for Humanities and Social Science, Lark Little for Nursing and Health Professions, Adrian Everett for Math and Computer Science , and Shunquetta Cunningham for the Graduate School.