Trapp elected president, ARC approved, in student elections

To cheers and tears, the results of the ASUSU elections were announced.

The future ASUSU Executive Council will be:

•ASUSU student body president: Christian Thrapp

•Executive vice president: Ben Wilson

• Academic senate president: Jordan Hunt

• Athletics vice president: Karson Kalian

• Diversity vice president: Mariana Ochoa

• Programming vice president: Chaise Warr

• Student advocate: Christian Orr

• Service vice president: Jeremy Nef

Additionally, the proposal on the Aggie Recreational Center and the constitutional changes were both approved.

Hannah Blackburn, who had led during the primary elections, was unable to gather enough votes to win the final election. She was out-voted by Thrapp by a margin of 316 votes.

“I know that I’m ready,” Thrapp said. “This is a big responsibility to be the voice of the students and I’m going to work my hardest to do my best.”

Thrapp’s campaign manager, Mandy West, said after the primary elections they tried not to do anything different. Instead of focusing on any specific groups the team spread itself out, a tactic that gained them more votes — especially among the Greek community, she said.

Blackburn declined to comment after the results were read.

“Hannah put her whole heart and soul into this, I can see why she was upset,” said Orr, the newly elected student advocate.

Wilson outpolled Abigail Kingsford by 669 votes.

“I’m glad I worked hard,” Wilson said. “Maybe would’ve focused a little bit more on school and not so much on the elections if I had been aware that the margin was what it was.”

In his election speech, Thrapp defined his purpose.

“This is all for the students,” Thrapp said. “Everything that we’ve done is all for you and we can’t thank you enough.”

“It looks like a great group,” said James Morales, vice president for student services. “It’s hard to tell at the beginning in terms of how it’s all going to come together. Given the power that these young people have, I feel confident that we’re going to have a very successful year.“

Matt Skabelund, Parker Jeppesen, Jessica Jolley, Katie Carter, Adison Pace, Victoria Hepworth, Julia Stock and Joe Bagnes contributed to this report.