College students approved two referenda by wide margins in the recently completed special election. The referenda included an amendment to the Arts & Sciences Council constitution and a statement thanking outgoing College Dean Ed Ayers for his contributions to the University.
ASC President Erica Siegmund said the approved ASC amendment alters the constitution so that a single council representative can be appointed from related departments or degree programs within the College.
According to Steve Yang, University Board of Elections chair, a ballot error during the regular spring election allowed students from outside the College to vote on the amendment.
This ballot error "voided the vote," and required a special election, Yang said.
The results of the special election for the first referendum reflect a total voter turnout of 1,015 students, with 866 voting in favor of the amendment.
The 1,015 votes were important, Yang said, since they represent 10.25 percent of the College's population. UBE regulations require at least a 10 percent turnout of eligible voters in order for such referenda to be passed in an election.
Siegmund said while the consolidation permitted by this amendment may result in fewer potential ASC representatives, these students will be able to better represent different departments and programs.
"Some departments are not represented well ... now we can assign this responsibility to someone else," Siegmund said.
She added that the consolidation of department and program representatives will aid in solving organizational and participation problems. Under this new system, smaller interdisciplinary programs such as Political and Social Thought and Political Philosophy, Policy and Law could be represented by one student rather than two.
Siegmund noted, though, that the Council has to approve any representative consolidations.
The change "will never be used to deny representation from departments or programs on the Council," Siegmund said.
College voters also approved an opinion referendum thanking Ayers for his service to the University.
"We just thought it would be a great opportunity to let Dean Ayers know how much he has been appreciated," Siegmund said.
The opinion referendum passed by a vote of 1,003 to 28 and extends College students' best wishes to Ayers as he starts his term as president of the University of Richmond next fall.
Ayers said he did not previously know about the referendum, but expressed his appreciation for the gesture. Ayers also joked he is going to "track down" the 28 students who voted against the referendum.
"All kidding aside, I'm just very touched by it," Ayers said. "People are doing their very best to make it hard for me to leave."
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