Imperial plumps for a new election

Over 1,000 Imperial College students voted in this week’s Sabbatical Elections to reopen nominations for the post of ICU President, the highest vote for New Election ever recorded. Sam Baker, the only candidate for the post, lodged an official complaint detailing her grievances with certain aspects of the elections.

In the most hotly contested race, that for Deputy President (Finance & Services), Rob Clark overcame a significant deficit on the South Kensington campus to win with almost 300 St Mary’s votes. The Deputy President (Clubs & Societies) was similarly decided when Smita Chaturvedi won despite a deficit of over 100 votes south of Hyde Park. Jeremy Thomson was elected as Felix Editor (and Print Unit Manager) with the help of St Mary’s votes, despite suffering at the hands of the well organised New Election campaign.

The two candidates for DP(C&S) proved to be the most conciliatory of all, with Sarah Thomas insisting that her opposing candidate would prove successful. Smita was almost speechless after her victory, saying "I’m very happy" and that she was "going straight to bed now, I’m very tired."

Chris Ince, SCC Chair and senior member of the Elections Committee, spoke to Felix about the appeal from Sam Baker saying that it was "under consideration." He went on to say that "the points that it made will probably come up in Council next Tuesday" and that it would "Sam made it quite clear that she had no objection to how the results went this year."

The New Election campaign itself has come under scrutiny with allegations that its budget was never approved by ICU Council, the practice of previous elections (Felix 1018). There has been no official statement as to how much money the New Election campaign has spent. Sarah Thomas, who is also ICU Council Chair, denies that the expenditure of Union money was approved by Council.

Nomination papers for the position of President will be posted at the beginning of next term.