"I think the big thing was that we campaigned on ideas instead of just bashing the Student Association."

- Robert Grover, SA president-elect

Students United for Change candidate Robert Grover will be the next Student Association president, following his victory over the Independent Milwaukee Panther Party candidate Carlo Albano in the 2007 election.

Grover, along with running mate Amanda Voigtlander, defeated Albano and Albulena Shabani by a tally of 1,199 to 595.

The presidential win capped off a highly successful campaign for the SUFC, which also claimed 37 of the 43 possible Senate seats.

"I think the big thing was that we campaigned on ideas instead of just bashing the Student Association," said Grover.

Grover added that he felt that the Black Student Union protest may have hurt the Independent party campaign.

"I think the BSU protest backfired and intimidated a lot of potential voters," he said.

No formal complaints or appeals have been filed as of yet, but Albano and the Milwaukee Panther Party (MPP) plan to challenge the final vote.

The MPP has already started distributing election flyers outlining what they believe to be an imbalance between the number of ballots received and votes counted.

"The IEC added another 200 some votes to the missing 500 when we began to talk to campus and community media," said Albano. "We continue to ask for investigation and condemnation of foul play in this election from the administration."

As it stands, 1,984 ballots were cast and 1,794 votes were cast for presidential candidates.

Independent Elections Commissioner Ada Hyso attributes the difference to a number of reasons.

Not everyone that cast a ballot necessarily voted for president, she said. There were also some ballots where students voted straight ticket for SUFC and still voted for Albano, Hyso said. Additionally, many blank election ballots were turned in.

"I can't count blank or voided ballots," Hyso said.

She added that she is open to a recount if one is asked for.

Grover indicated that he is eager to work on fighting a raise in the UPass rate for the upcoming year, and identified the controversial Chapter 17 issue as his main summer objectives.

He will be taking over for departing Student Association President Samantha Prahl on June 1.

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