Emotions ran high Tuesday as ASMSU officials elected Eric Hinojosa as chairperson for the undergraduate student government's Academic Assembly.
Hinojosa, a former Residence Halls Association representative for Academic Assembly, took the gavel from his predecessor, Robert Murphy, and immediately assumed his newly elected position during the meeting.
Murphy, who has served ASMSU for six semesters, said he felt odd stepping down from his office after putting "proverbial blood, sweat and tears" into the job. He even carried the gavel in a leather holster before striking it a final time and handing it to Hinojosa.
"ASMSU consumes your life," Murphy said. "You form friendships, and there's drama, of course, with trying very carefully to get things done for all undergraduates. I have the utmost confidence in Chairperson Hinojosa."
While Hinojosa's victory went uncontested, the rest of the election did not run as smoothly.
Political science and pre-law sophomore Michael McAlpine announced he was dropping from the race for internal vice chairperson during his speech to the assembly, in a move he called "unorthodox."
Instead, McAlpine used the time to criticize the assembly for a number of issues, including failing to properly publicize itself — causing members of the assembly to become agitated.
"I just had a change of heart," McAlpine said about removing himself from the ballot.
Assembly members expressed concern during the meeting about the other candidate, Jamie Schare, because she will be on a summer study abroad trip to Israel that would keep her out of the ASMSU offices for 30 days.
Members said they were worried Schare would not be able to fulfill her office hours.
Schare, whose name was alone on the ballot after McAlpine withdrew, lost with a vote of 5-7. The assembly favored a "no-confidence" vote. Schare, a Jewish Student Union representative, was shocked to learn she did not win the seat.
Schare asked for the vote count to be repeated and then left the room.
A re-election will take place on April 25 and applicants can reapply. Until then, Karthik Prasad, the current internal vice chairperson, will continue to occupy the seat.
"She's a female. This is a very male-dominated assembly," said Felicia Anderson, the Council for Students with Disabilities representative. "She's a qualified individual, and this is just a bad decision."
Anderson said she voted for Schare.
Matthew Caramagno, a representative for the College of Social Science, did not reveal whether he voted for or against Schare, but said he was confident in the assembly's decision.
"People made decisions based on the evidence," Caramagno said. "I believe the only factors deliberated were the ones that affected the job."
The assembly also elected Brandon Sethi as its new external vice chairperson.
