The results of the Class of 2007 and Class of 2010 elections are in, and DeRay Mckesson '07, who has served as Class of 2007 president twice in the past, secured another year in the post with his 201-89 victory against Jay Tansey '07. Mckesson will also begin his second-straight year as president of Bowdoin Student Government, a position he was elected to in April.
For Mckesson, the election was not an easy one, as he was forbidden from self-campaigning after being designated a college resource in his role as BSG president. Last year, he was disqualified in last year's election for endorsing a vice- presidential candidate.
"It was a stressful election," said Mckesson, "This was the only election I knew going in I couldn't talk about my campaign."
This year, Mckesson also encountered different controversy as some questioned his ability to hold both a role as Class of 2007 president and BSG president.
"I'll be spending a lot of time on both," said Mckesson. "Neither is more important than the other."
Now elected, Mckesson has big plans for the year. Among other programs, Mckesson looks forward to creating "healthy tension" on world issues, preparing the Class of 2007 for life beyond Bowdoin, and engaging the rest of the campus as a class.
Among the other Class of 2007 offices up for election, Jin Sun Kim won the race for treasurer against Justin Strasburger with 162 votes to 124. Emily Hubbard and Torri Parker will be the BSG representatives for the senior class. Elizabeth Laurits and Lisa Peterson both won unopposed as treasurer and community service officer, respectively.
In the race for Class of 2010 president, Matthew Yantakosol won a close election with 139 votes against runner-up Emma Verrill, winning by only five votes. Ari Bittel, who caused controversy with his campaign posters, came in last with 14 votes.
Scott Ogden beat Diego Rivera for Class of 2010 vice president by a margin of 305 to 79. Francis Huynh will be the treasurer for class of 2010, winning after defeating Fatoumatta Kunjo 222 to 151. Of the four first years that ran for the two class of 2010 BSG representative spots, Alicia Martinez and Bryce Spalding were elected with 151 and 169 votes, respectively. Voters chose Désirée Jones to be the class community service officer with 140 votes.
According to Dustin Brooks '08, vice president of student government affairs, there was relatively little controversy surrounding this year's election. Only one formal complaint was made when a candidate protested the BSG's decision to extend the deadline for applications for community service officer. The complaint was ultimately dismissed.
"There wasn't much of a debate," said Brooks.