Friday, April 17, 2009
The Yacht Club echoed with chants of “Mason and May” Thursday night as Mason Heilman and May Davis of United Students were named student body president and vice president by a margin of 95 votes.
“I spent every moment I’ve been awake on this campaign,” Heilman, Lawrence junior, said. “It’s a great feeling. It’s surreal.”
The victory came after a long week of uncertainties for Davis, Clay Center junior, who was removed from the election Tuesday evening, pending results of an appeal by United Students. Davis was accused of inappropriately contacting members of the elections commission.
Video
In Thursday night's elections, United Students came away with the president and vice president positions, but Envision won more senate seats. KUJH reporters caught up with coalition representatives afterwards.
United Students vice presidential May Davis and president Mason Heilman celebrate after the announcement that they won this year's Student Senate election on Thursday evening at the Yacht Club.
Before the announcement, Davis said she was nervous to hear the decision. She said she was afraid to get too excited because she already knew what it felt like to lose something important, referring to the elections commission’s decision.
“You don’t realize how much you want something until it’s taken away from you,” she said.
United Students filed an appeal of that decision Thursday morning and is currently waiting for a hearing date from the University judicial board.
“This is step one,” Davis said. “Step one is to win the election. Step two is to win the appeal.”
Both Davis and Heilman said they were confident the decision, which could prevent Davis from holding any elected or appointed position in Senate for one year, would be overturned.
“I think the appeals process will be in her benefit,” Heilman said. “I have no doubt she’ll handle herself well.”
Heilman will sworn in as student body president during a joint Senate meeting Wed. April 29. Members of both the old and new Senate will be present.
Twenty seven members of United Students were elected to senator positions. Heilman said he was thankful for the dedicated group of people who worked on the campaign.
He said United Students would soon begin working on its platforms, but for now, he was excited just to be able get some sleep.
— — Edited by Justin Leverett
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Comments
BaneMaler (anonymous) says...
Big surprised. The corrupt win again. Isn't America great. I had hoped that I would see one year where United Students would finally be defeated but I forgot that people usually get the government they deserve. KU students deserve United Students.
April 17, 2009 at 5:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
go_jayhawks (anonymous) says...
Congratulations Mason and May! Job well earned. Certainly am glad you two will be student leaders with incoming administration this summer.
April 17, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralphralph (anonymous) says...
Cheat + Lie + Bully = Win!
Good 'real world' training, indeed.
April 17, 2009 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Envision (anonymous) says...
Cheat to win.
April 17, 2009 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pantheon (anonymous) says...
Is this "cheat" referencing the thing May's going to be canned for? Because I'm not sure I'd call that cheating, nor would I consider it a contribution to the win. I think the big thing here is that Freshman/Sophomore students, before they grow up, are attached to the greek system for some reason or another, and vote xunitedx (whatever their name happens to be in a given year) unless they cocked up real bad and didn't change their name before the election.
I don't actually like saying it, but I'm not sure Freshman/Sophomore votes should be counted as "one person one vote" when it comes to president/vice president. Maybe we could count each Freshman vote as 3/5th of a vote and each Sophomore vote as 4/5th of a vote. That seems fair, right?
April 17, 2009 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
go_jayhawks (anonymous) says...
Please tell me you are joking.
April 17, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nonsurly (anonymous) says...
http://www.kansan.com/stories/2007/ap...
Just throwin' that out there.
April 17, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pantheon (anonymous) says...
Only partially. Guess which part.
April 17, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leehuaitu (anonymous) says...
A woman as intelligent as May May understands that, now, United Students no longer requires her to operate. Her winning the appeal is simply a dubious luxury. If she loses, she is more easily replaced than anybody would publicly admit.
Now that this election is over, let's see what May May is really capable of.
Adoringly yours,
Tutu Lee
P.S. Mason, when I met your mother at the Yacht Club yesterday I couldn't believe how fearful she claimed she was of me! I felt as though I should have given her a hug or something to make her feel better. Please communicate said hug the next time you see her.
April 17, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
connerm (anonymous) says...
A 3/5 compromise?...where have I heard that before...
April 17, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pantheon (anonymous) says...
Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
April 17, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rlawler (anonymous) says...
Pantheon seems to be overly excited by the prospect of four student senate related articles on kansan.com today. There's so much opportunity for him to speak negatively about the election and United Students that he cannot even write coherently.
April 17, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
handy (anonymous) says...
I cannot comprehend Pantheon's latest post either...
April 17, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
It'll be interesting to see how he pushes his platforms through after running such a divisive campaign. 39-27 + appointed seats which a fair majority of which will go to envisioners will lead to those terribad platforms being cast away by the senate.
50k for a rec allowance policy? Rediculous.
Native plants on campus? Not sustainability
Class shopping week refunds? The university will never give up something that generates revenue in a time where they are facing cuts.
Need I say more?
April 17, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pantheon (anonymous) says...
"I'm glad these student senators can now get on with the business of doing nothing and wasting my money."
They can't do nothing AND waste our money. They have to pick one or the other.
And for everybody who didn't understand my last post: It's in plain English. Maybe you've heard of it, it's a language commonly spoken in the best place in the world, AMERICA
April 17, 2009 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucknorris (anonymous) says...
Wow.....just wow. That's all I have to say here. Lie, Cheat, be scandalous, then win. Congratulations you dubious pricks. I hope that you enjoy wasting my money on non-sustainable policies that do absolutely nothing for us. I'm almost to the point of transferring to Manhattan, that is how genuinely pissed off I am.
April 17, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForeverYoung (anonymous) says...
Congratulations to Mason.
April 17, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OhHappyDay (anonymous) says...
Move to Manhattan then. You too, Justin Hitt. Then KU will be a more positive, happy place. And I won't have to look at you.
April 17, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hardcastle (anonymous) says...
i was wondering when someone would bring up the May Davis's "Bracket Babes" thing. i thought i was the only one who remembered that.
April 17, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
Lol, I love how you tell me to move when I simply stated that those jokes for platforms will never pass in a common sense majority. Good luck.
P.S. You should reveal yourself in my opinion you coward.
April 17, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
selliott (anonymous) says...
Is United Students going to be investigated for their conduct at the Wheel? Do any of the United Students know?
April 17, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
The_Truth (anonymous) says...
Mason AND May congrats on the victory, and on not succumbing to the negativity surrounding this election. No gimmicks, destruction of property, theft, and false pamphlets could deter the student body from realizing that you two are the best suited for the job. Good luck and its only going to get more difficult from here on out.
May Davis will win her appeal...and that's the truth.
JHitt- you lost by 123 votes...get over it. Your coalition did well and now have the majority in the Senate. You should be happy. The platforms United Students put forth ARE viable and possible. Get over the fact that these ideas came from the opposite coalition.
April 17, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
I did lose, never argued that. I'm happy we have a majority and I don't agree that these platforms aren't viable. I say they are stupid and therefore unlikely to be implemented on us.
Plus, SoL did a great job on those pamphlets and tell me what on them is fake? It's all cited from what I read. Learn the rules imo.
April 17, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SamuelBrownstone (anonymous) says...
You know what's interesting? "JHitt" talks to me on campus about the ethics reform that will come to Student Senate if he and his coalition are elected. Then he makes all of these claims of how they are not going to help Mason and May complete their platforms.
JHitt-- You lost the election. Your coalition lost the election. It's time to play nice. What's best for the students? You going on a power trip? Nope. It's working with the leaders of the Senate to use the students' money in the best way. Now how does that work? Blocking all United Students' legislation based merely on the authors? Nope.
Get over yourself. Now. Quit being a douche-bag freshman. What goes around comes around.
April 17, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
No, using the students money to pay for those terrible platforms is in no way best for the students. I gave my justification 3 posts ago and none of them had anything to do with the author. If something makes fiscal sense I'll approve of it. None of my listed platforms make fiscal sense.
Tell me why they do and I'll shush myself.
April 17, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
"my listed" means those platforms mentioned above by me
April 17, 2009 at 5:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
Furthermore it is in no way shape or form unethical to oppose platforms based on the fact that they don't make fiscal sense and how dare you insinuate that I vote only on names alone. What experience do you have in senate? What committee are you on? What honestly do you know? Reveal yourself you coward.
April 17, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nonsurly (anonymous) says...
Epic win:
Duncan Davis, May’s father, said his daughter was always most comfortable in the front and in the spotlight. He also said the “Bracket Babes” contest was “idiotic and without any sense whatsoever.”
“I think she’ll attempt about anything, as long as it’s not sticking her finger in a light socket,” he said.
April 17, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SamuelBrownstone (anonymous) says...
Oooo, touched a nerve with Jhitt, didn't I?
April 17, 2009 at 9:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ebhyde (Eric Hyde) says...
This election is not over.
April 17, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
Just my annoying one.
Feel free to answer how they are fiscally responsible though and I'll be fine.
April 17, 2009 at 11:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MoscowCalls (anonymous) says...
SamBrownstone: So what if JHitt is a freshman? Who gives a damn? You're in college, not high school, though apparently you still belong in high school.
Sincerely,
Moscow. A senior.
April 17, 2009 at 11:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wtfmate (anonymous) says...
I'm just going to say the following
60 return period for book- The union makes 60% of its revenue from the bookstores. Allowing a 60 return policy for books would cause the union to lose money and cause at least a dollar increase in student fees
Native trees- please visit www.ku.edu. The university had already completed work on those plans and has ordered the plants. They are putting them in this summer and it had nothing to do with Mason or May.
One week shopping period- Doesn't effect most of the students who have required courses and sequencing. Also, if you go in and actually talk to the registrar, you can get a full refund, I know someone who just got one last week.
Rec center card-less entry- Not necessary, and would require a dollar increase in fees and a 2 week closure of the rec center for installation of the program.
April 18, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jhitt (anonymous) says...
My sentiments exactly
April 18, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SamuelBrownstone (anonymous) says...
But he couldn't vocalize them himself
April 19, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coffee_pot (anonymous) says...
does this even matter? initiatives are never going to get accomplished if student fees keep getting cut b/c there is a lack of money but then senate feels the need to buy 8 NEW COMPUTERS and mcgoonigle the need to by 2 VERY nice chairs.
April 19, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rlawler (anonymous) says...
coffee_pot, I ask that you reply to this request in only one manner. Please go to the student senate office tomorrow and ask Diana if you can use my computer to comment on a Kansan article. I will check this website again in 15 years for your response since it will take that long for it to start up. True story.
April 19, 2009 at 9:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )