Mount Allison to hold 4th student president vote
Last Updated: Friday, October 23, 2009 | 8:38 AM AT
CBC News
Seven months and three ballots later, students at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., still don't have a student council president for this academic year.
So on Wednesday night, the student council voted to schedule another election. Members hope a new president will be elected by the end of November.
The problems began in April when the president-elect stepped down before taking office.
Since students returned to campus in September, they have been subjected to two elections, one in September and one in October.
The results from the first election were thrown out because of ballot problems and appeals.
A run-off vote in October also didn't produce a winner because neither of the two remaining candidates got the required 50 per cent plus one needed to win.
'We had every worst-case scenario'
Mike Minard, a fourth year student and the former chief returning officer for the Students Administrative Council, said the breakdown was inevitable.
"Ultimately, it was only a matter of time before this situation came up, given the system that we have. Unfortunately, this was the year that all the chips fell and we had every worst-case scenario happen," he said.
Alex MacDonald, vice-president external of the council, said the multiple elections have been distracting for students.
"Student opinion has been fairly split all over the place, from what I gather. It seems like there are a lot that would just like it done and over with, have a president," he said.
"And there are lots that wanted us to follow very, very strict letter of the law in that we do restart an election no matter what sort of inconvenience it is to students, going out and voting for a president for a fourth, possibly fifth time this year."
