Knudsen elected to second term in GPSA

GPSA President Lissa Knudsen was re-elected to her second term as president.
She received more than 50 percent of the vote, and her opponent, Martin Gutierrez, got almost 43 percent.
However, Gutierrez is asking for an independent entity to examine the elections process from beginning to end, citing several glitches from the GPSA Elections Committee and Internet Technologies.

“The current administration and elections committee have not been transparent about this process,” Gutierrez said in a statement. “Too many incidents have been called into question to simply accept the results. Thus, we will not accept the results of this election without an independent body with the capacity to review and interpret the elections process.”

Before the election, Gutierrez’ name was wrong in a Daily Lobo advertisement announcing the elections. GPSA elections chair Sophie Hammett wrote a letter to the editor apologizing for the misspelling. On April 19, 62 votes were discarded because of a 43-minute elections software malfunction. And the GPSA Elections Committee realized Thursday that 180 graduate and professional students were not invited to vote.

Also, the committee informed students who voted within the 43-minute window that their votes were thrown out and asked them to recast their votes. And the committee sent the affected students invitations early Thursday morning to cast their vote.
“We, the elections committee, are committed to ensuring that all eligible students can vote in this election,” the committee said in a statement issued Thursday.

The committee asked for input from the GPSA Court of Review regarding a possible re-vote, and it released the results Friday with no mention of the court or its evaluation of the election.

More than 400 students voted in the election, and all amendments also on the ballot passed by at least 67 percent. Knudsen received 199 votes, Martin received 169 and 38 votes were abstentions or from students who chose not to vote.
Knudsen said the election, despite the glitches, was fair.

“I trust the Court of Review, and I think it’s important that we don’t put undue burden on the constituents and try to drag this process out,” she said.

Re-examining the election results and process would unnecessarily postpone her taking office for a second time, she said.
“I think it’s very important that GPSA does everything in its power that we are respectful of the constituents’ concerns and wishes and that we take transparency very seriously,” she said. “At the same time, I think it’s important that we not waste our constituents’ time.”
Knudsen said she hopes Gutierrez will stay with GPSA despite not being elected president.

“I’m honored to have been elected. I think that Martin was a worthy opponent,” she said. “I hope that Martin stays in GPSA because he has a lot to offer.”

She said she’s now faced with appointing graduate and professional students into various posts.
“I think it’s going to be a good year, and I invite anyone who is interested in becoming involved with GPSA to contact me as we prepare for the next administration,” she said.

Interested students can contact Knudsen at unmgpsa@gmail.com