Eventful presidential election attended by 50 students, including College Republicans

College Democrats presidential candidates Kelly Stellrecht, (right) junior political science major, and Amy Groya, (left) sophomore political science and history major, listen to the current president talk at last night’s meeting. Stellrecht, current vice

Credit: Carl Schierhorn

After a controversial election, Kelly Stellrecht, junior political science major, beat Amy Groya, sophomore history and political science major, as the new president of the College Democrats.

Donovan Hill, junior political science major, was elected vice president.

About 50 students attended last night’s College Democrats meeting, including members of the College Republicans. After beginning the meeting in open session, faculty adviser Pamela Grimm motioned to have a closed election. Only College Democrats members who had attended at least two meetings were permitted to stay in the room as voting took place.

“There really is no reason to have non-members be present during the election process,” Grimm said.

Half way through the closed election, after the presidential candidate was voted on, Grimm motioned to open the election process, Groya said. She said the reason they decided to open the election was because the presidential election could have been contested.

During the closed election, Groya said the candidates gave their final speeches and were asked questions from members.

“They wanted to ensure only eligible members voted,” she said.

Matt White, outgoing president of the College Republicans, said he believed the closed session election was not a democratic process.

“I had no intentions of voting or disrupting the election process,” he said. “I was curious as to whom the club would select and that’s my right as a student.”

White noted after the meeting that water had apparently been shot from a squirt gun on the door of the College Republicans’ office.

Elizabeth Eisaman, president-elect of the College Republicans, said as long as she is president, she pledges never to hold a closed-door meeting.

“Anything the College Republicans discuss is honest enough for anyone to hear,” she said.

Grimm said any organization has the right to close a meeting if it does not deny such a process in the charter or bylaw of the organization.

Dan McKay, associate student government senator from the University of Akron, said the University of Akron College Democrats always have open meetings. He said he was surprised that students from other campuses were allowed in the closed-session meeting, but not all Kent State students.

Sophomore English major Virginia Cole was elected secretary. Lindsey Barbati, junior hospitality management major, was elected treasurer. Kate DeFrank, freshman special education major and Kevin Hodar, senior political science major, were elected co-chair/membership directors.

Theresa Bruskin, political science and newspaper journalism major, was elected communication director. Alexis Mundis, junior political science major, was elected political director.

Contact student politics reporter Brianne George at [email protected].