Petersen Wins Runoff
By Hanna A. Gordola and Meghan Smith

The junior class finally knows who its senior class officers will be. Last week's general elections resulted in a runoff election between senior class presidential candidates Meg Petersen and Doug Weiss. The final decision was delivered Tuesday night, with few twists and turns along the way.

After an extra week of campaigning, Petersen and Weiss waited for the election results in the student government suite. But instead of finding out who won, Board of Elections chairman Nicholas Mosley made a surprising announcement.

"The entire campus system went down from 3:49 p.m. to 8 p.m. at night, a total of four
hours and eleven minutes,” Mosley read from a written statement. “It is the opinion of the chair of the Board of Elections that these could have affected the election results for senior class offices."

That meant another runoff election.

"The set elections will be one week from today,” said Mosley.

Immediately Petersen and Weiss’s campaign staff protested. Mosley told them that they could protest BOE’s decision. A two-thirds Board majority would be needed to override the decision for another run-off. Petersen told Mosley that she and Weiss had already discussed what they would do if this would happen.

“I think we’ve had enough,” Weiss said. He explained that he and Petersen would like to forgo another election because they were equally affected by the computer problems. Another run-off would yield a lower voter turnout – for both candidates.

“We won’t contest [today’s final votes],” said Petersen.

Even though the candidates were allowed to appeal Mosley's decision, Mosley was taken by
surprise.

“I'm sorry. I didn't realize you guys were going to do that,” he said.

Mosley decided to meet immediately with the BOE to see if it would overturn his decision.

Only three members of the eight-member board were present. In the meantime, Petersen, Weiss and their campaign staff waited.

There was tension in the room, but everyone masked their nervousness with laughter. Petersen turned to her campaign staff. “Does anyone have Juno?”

Twenty minutes later, Mosley walked in the room. The BOE had made up their minds and unanimously voted to honor the candidates wishes, 6-0. Mosley said he overturned his own vote. Despite the tight race and the computer problems, the junior class would finally know who its class officers will be.

"And so, here are the results,” Mosley said. “A total of 1,094 people voted today, and with 598 votes, Meg and Eric will be the senior class officers."

The different emotional reactions split the room in half. While Petersen and running mate Eric Schmidt laughed and hugged their supporters, Weiss’ supporters consoled him.

But after a long night of waiting, then waiting again, Weiss said he's just glad he finally
knows.

"I think all of us were just ready for this thing to be settled,” Weiss said. “Obviously I'm disappointed with the results, but I'm happy that it's settled."

He added that at least now, he gets his life back.

Weiss congratulated Petersen and said he thinks she’d be a great senior class president. He said he doesn’t regret his decision because the juniors deserve to have an answer.

“And who’s to say [computer problems] won’t happen again next year,” he said.

Petersen, meanwhile, was excited by her long-awaited victory.

“I’m speechless,” Petersen said. "I'm really excited. I can't wait for the next – I don't know – year and a half. And I'm really pumped about it. I think it's going to be great."

Petersen said the first thing on her agenda is sleep. Then after that, she and Schmidt are going to talk to this year’s senior class officers to get some pointers.