HERStory wins 2020-21 SA election, student activity fee to become voluntary

After a three day election, senior political science and philosophy major Adolyn Cofie has been named SA president for the 2020-21 school year.

Cofie, along with senior public health major Alyssa Palacios (vice president) and senior sociology major Sayan Trotman (treasurer) ran as the HERStory party. Their platform called for improving cultural diversity and awareness at UB, improving SA’s social programs,such as the safety shuttle, expanding free menstrual products to all UB restrooms and partnering with UB Athletics, the Intercultural Diversity Center, University Tickets and Blackstone LaunchPad to improve “student life” services. 

According to SA Elections and Credentials Chair Daniel Deslippe, 1,128 votes were cast, which represents 5.15% of the student body. Cofie and Palacios earned 489 votes, while Trotman earned 405. Runner-up R.I.S.E party finished with 319 votes, followed by the DREEM team party with 104. HERStory was the only party to run with a treasurer on their ticket. Runner-up treasurer candidate Viraja Bhosale won 286 votes, followed by Eric Weinman with 237. There were 216 abstaintions for the president/VP ticket and 200 abstaintions for the treasurer ticket. 

The election ballot also called for students to vote on whether to keep the student activity fee mandatory or transition to a voluntary fee for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. With 614 votes cast for a voluntary fee and 514 cast for a mandatory fee, the fee will transition to voluntary. The $109 student activity fee is allocated towards SA events such as Spring and Fall Fest and funds for clubs and intramurals. Of the fees, roughly $4 million is allocated for Fall and Spring Fest.

Reilly Mullen is the managing editor and can be reached at reilly.mullen@ubspectrum.com or on Twitter @ReillyMMullen.  

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