The race for president of the Undergraduate Council of Students may develop into a close contest between Todd Harris ’14.5 and Afia Kwakwa ’14, according to polling conducted by The Herald.
Out of 230 students polled, 110 — 47.8 percent of the total — said they voted for Harris, and 99 students, or 43 percent of the total, said they voted for Kwakwa. Another 21 students, or 9.1 percent, said they voted for Daniel Pipkin ’14.
The Herald polled every third student that entered the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center or the Sciences Library during certain afternoon and evening hours Tuesday and Wednesday.
Harris told The Herald he was “really excited” about the results of the poll.
“I’m glad it’s a close race. It really shows how important it is to vote,” he said.
Harris added he was heartened by UCS President Anthony White’s ’13 announcement at the council’s general body meeting Wednesday that 40 percent of the student body had voted as of two hours before the meeting, which marked an upsurge from the 28 percent voter turnout rate last year.
“I’m still going to be out there making sure as many people vote as possible” until voting closes at noon today, Harris said.
Kwakwa declined to comment on the results of the poll. Pipkin could not be reached for comment by press time.
Harris has said that as UCS president he would advocate improving the advising system and increasing student-alum partnerships.
Kwakwa has said she would work to increase the council’s transparency to the student body by providing more avenues for student feedback.
Pipkin has identified expanding the University’s financial aid policies as a priority he would pursue if elected.
The winners of the UCS elections will be announced midnight tonight on the steps of the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center.
The race for chair of the Undergraduate Finance Board between Leila Veerasamy ’15 and Alex Sherry ’15 may be less close, with Veerasamy possessing a significant lead, the same poll results indicate.
Of 175 students, 126 — 72 percent — said they voted for Veerasamy. Another 49 students, or 28 percent, said they cast their votes for Sherry.
Veerasamy has said that, if elected, she would aim to improve the board’s funding process by pairing UFB representatives with student groups that matched their interests.
Sherry has said he would make the funding process more efficient by making UFB representatives meet with their student groups earlier in the semester.
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