2008 Woodie Awards
Feinberg steps aside, Ahrens president
Justin Oswald
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
03/13/08 - Thomas Ahrens has been elected as the University of Rhode Island Student Senate president following two weeks of uncertainty and debate that resulted in the disqualification of Josh Feinberg, who won the popular vote.
Ahrens will be inaugurated in two weeks at the senate's annual meeting.
Although Ahrens did not want to win with a disqualification, he is looking toward the future of the senate and plans to meet students' expectations.
"I didn't want to win in this manner, but I know I'm right for this job," Ahrens said.
Feinberg received 517 votes to Ahrens' 421. But before the votes were counted, the Elections Committee voted to disqualify Feinberg and running mate Eric Klos after an election rules infraction. The committee said the pair violated rules barring candidates from campaigning in the Memorial Union during elections.
The crux of the rule is that voters should be able to vote based on how they feel without being pressured by the candidates, Elections Committee Chairwoman Cristin Langworthy said.
Feinberg and Klos appealed the committee's ruling on the basis that their supporters' actions were out of their control. A bill introduced by the Rules and Ethics Committee that passed last night upheld the Elections Committee's decision.
At a meeting when debate would usually occur on an issue with presidential repercussions, Feinberg declined to contest the disqualification Wednesday.
"I am biting my tongue very, very, very hard about this. I'm swallowing my pride. It's all for the senate and all for the students," Feinberg said. Earlier he said, "Normally I don't drop things this easily."
Feinberg said that he bought 500 pens and 100 T-shirts for the campaign, but wanted to make clear that the actions of students campaigning on his behalf were out of his control.
Senator Gabe Mancuso, a member of Rules and Ethics, motioned for a clause to be added to the Rules and Ethics bill that stated, "It is beyond the candidate's ability to control individual supporters." The motion failed 12-17 with two abstentions.
Ahrens will be inaugurated in two weeks at the senate's annual meeting.
Although Ahrens did not want to win with a disqualification, he is looking toward the future of the senate and plans to meet students' expectations.
"I didn't want to win in this manner, but I know I'm right for this job," Ahrens said.
Feinberg received 517 votes to Ahrens' 421. But before the votes were counted, the Elections Committee voted to disqualify Feinberg and running mate Eric Klos after an election rules infraction. The committee said the pair violated rules barring candidates from campaigning in the Memorial Union during elections.
The crux of the rule is that voters should be able to vote based on how they feel without being pressured by the candidates, Elections Committee Chairwoman Cristin Langworthy said.
Feinberg and Klos appealed the committee's ruling on the basis that their supporters' actions were out of their control. A bill introduced by the Rules and Ethics Committee that passed last night upheld the Elections Committee's decision.
At a meeting when debate would usually occur on an issue with presidential repercussions, Feinberg declined to contest the disqualification Wednesday.
"I am biting my tongue very, very, very hard about this. I'm swallowing my pride. It's all for the senate and all for the students," Feinberg said. Earlier he said, "Normally I don't drop things this easily."
Feinberg said that he bought 500 pens and 100 T-shirts for the campaign, but wanted to make clear that the actions of students campaigning on his behalf were out of his control.
Senator Gabe Mancuso, a member of Rules and Ethics, motioned for a clause to be added to the Rules and Ethics bill that stated, "It is beyond the candidate's ability to control individual supporters." The motion failed 12-17 with two abstentions.