The results are in: MRU’s next student council decided

The votes have been tallied and the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University has a president once again — Kaylene McTavish will fill the post that has been empty since Meghan Melnyk’s Jan. 25 resignation.

This year’s election saw a strong voter turnout with a total of 1512 ballots cast, comprising about 13 per cent of eligible voters. The number of participants was up from last year’s turnout of 7.95 per cent.

McTavish, a public relations student who spent the last year as VP of student life, ran uncontested and won the presidency with 1100 “yes” votes.

The Students' Association of Mount Royal University's next executive council. From left: Julia Broome, Jennifer Langille, Kaylene McTavish and Addison Asuchak. Photo: Bryan Weismiller

“I’m ecstatic,” she said, adding that she was grateful to receive so much support from the student body.

“To see students get engaged and really care makes my job that much easier.”

McTavish said during an election debate on Mar. 1 that she believes her biggest challenge as president will be gaining the trust of Mount Royal’s students.

The job of VP student life was the only executive committee role with more than one candidate this year. The three-way race ended in victory for Addison Asuchak, a science student who claimed 793 votes. Cale Ellis-Toddington and Shiv MacFarlane got 328 and 242 votes, respectively.

Though the other candidates ran unopposed, they still had to be elected on a yes or no vote. Julia Broome, also a public relations student, will be taking over the position of VP external with 1087 “yes” votes, while Jennifer Langille, a history major, remains in her role as VP academic with 984 “yes” votes.

Students were also asked to vote on a referendum question of whether or not the SA should continue to collect a $3-fee per semester for their scholarship fund until 2022. The fee was approved with 950 votes to keep it and 503 votes to get rid of it.