Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Lauren Sagar

Media Credit: Lauren Sagar

Enthusiastic shouts engulfed the porch of the Associated Student's house last night as the results for the A.S. elections were posted in the window.

Members of the S.J.S.U party jumped up and down wailing, "You got it man! You got it man!" to Benjamin Henderson, who won the presidency over SHIFT party candidate Joel Bridgeman.

"I feel great," Henderson said. "I really worked hard. I can't believe it. I feel blessed. I thank the S.J.S.U party for their hard work, as well as the SHIFT party."

Henderson, a senior majoring in political science, beat Bridgeman by 108 votes and said he will start working with state legislators to tackle student fee increases.

"I think I did pretty well," said Bridgeman, a senior majoring in political science and African-American studies. "But the voice lies with the students."

Even though he didn't win, Bridgeman said he will continue to advocate student activism.

Although the S.J.S.U party, which stands for Social Justice and Success for this University, gained the presidency position, the majority of the victories went to the SHIFT party, something that made the enthusiasm of its candidates somewhat reserved.

"It's bittersweet," said Jessica Hernandez, who received nearly two-thirds of the vote for vice president against independent candidate, and former '93-'94 A.S. president, Blair Whitney.

"Some of my members didn't win," said Hernandez, who is a junior majoring in communication studies and behavioral science. "But I'm happy students voiced their opinion."

Winning candidate for the director of communications position and a freshman communications major, Juan Luna, said that while he feels lucky for his hard work to pay off in a victory for the SHIFT party, he said something is missing.

"We made it all the way without our leader," Luna said, referring to Bridgeman. "But we have to work together now. I have faith."

Timothy McDaniel, a junior majoring in communication studies, won the student resource affairs position for the SHIFT party against S.J.S.U candidate Mohammad Huweih.

"I'm excited," said McDaniel. "But I'm also overwhelmed because I know there will be a responsibility with the victory."

McDaniel said he will create an online bridge between A.S. and students to educate them on the resources available to them. The Web site will be a tool to keep students updated and will also be a way for students to post comments and requests to the A.S. board, creating stronger communication, McDaniel said.

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