BYU NewsNet - May, Hansen win BYUSA elections

The polls closed, the votes were counted and the winners of the 2009 BYUSA elections were announced at a gathering of candidates and their supporters in the Wilkinson Center Terrace on Friday.

Elise May, a junior from South Jordan, majoring in elementary education, will become BYUSA’s next president. Her running mate, Landon Hansen, a junior from Rupert, Idaho, majoring in neuroscience, will serve as the executive vice president.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend BYU,” May said as her blue- and red-clad supporters cheered and embraced one another. “I’m grateful for Brooke and Andrew and the great things they did, and for BYUSA, and especially for all the willing hands who put in so much time. We’re looking forward to a great year.”

Hansen credited his team’s supporters for the win.

“This has definitely been the most overwhelming moment I think I’ve ever felt,” he said. “I have learned so much this whole process about the importance of people.”

May and Jensen came in second in last week’s primary elections with 25 percent of the vote, while Stevens and Jensen received 31 percent. Backed by endorsements from members from the three teams who did not advance, May and Hansen took 56 percent of the final vote.

Jensen, whose team received the remaining 44 percent of the vote, said running with Stevens for BYUSA’s top two positions was a good experience.

“Brooke and I ran a tremendous campaign, and the people that were on our team put in time and energy and resources that were more than what we asked,” he said. “I stood back in awe at times witnessing how great it is people can work together, united in a cause. ... I see no waste in everything we did.”

May said she ran for president of BYUSA because the student service association changed her experience at BYU.

“It has made it something much more than I ever could have even dreamed that it would be,” she said. “We have thousands of students that come get involved here every year, and I want each one of them to be able to have a better experience here at BYU.”

Hansen said his desire to run for student office was solidified by learning more about BYUSA and the opportunity he had to team up with May.

“I love what I’ve been able to do up here in this office, and I’m really excited to be able to continue to serve,” he said. “I enjoy doing it, and I want to spend some time giving back to this university that’s given me so much.”

With the elections over, the work is just beginning for May and Hansen. In the coming weeks they must select five vice presidents to head campus activities, clubs, communications, the Student Honor Association and the Student Advisory Council. According to BYUSA’s charter, the process involves accepting applications, interviewing candidates and consulting with student leadership professionals. The new presidency and vice presidents will be sworn in April 8.

May and Hansen will officially assume their duties on the first day of spring term. May will direct the work of the presidency, meet with administrators in an advisory function and act as the university’s official student spokeswoman. Hansen will prepare BYUSA’s budgets, chair the student service association’s program review committee and coordinate the work of the vice presidents, according to the charter.

According to elections results provided by BYUSA, 5,501 students — about 16 percent of the student body — voted in the final elections, 161 students fewer than voted in the primaries. Over the course of the week, 11,163 total votes were cast. Current BYUSA president Adam Ruri said total voters increased by 77 students from last year.