With 52.5 per cent of the vote, Stèfy McKnight has been elected President of the Society for Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS).
“I’m super happy with all the I’ve had over the past few weeks, as some of you know it’s been pretty rocky,” McKnight told The Journal after hearing the results. “I’m here for students and I’m here for the SGPS … [and] I’m really thankful that [Tyler] has been super ive. This is the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
McKnight beat out opponent Tyler Morrison who received 47.5 per cent of the vote. With the win, she will succeed current SGPS President Adam Grotsky.
McKnight, a Cultural Studies PhD student, currently serves as Vice-President (Graduate) of the SGPS. Her platform focuses on being a consistent and continuous face in the SGPS, improving supervisor and student relations, as well as advocating for the graduate society in different forums throughout the University.
Isabel Luce was elected Vice-President (Community) with 55.2 per cent of the vote, while her opponent Mac Fitzgerald received 44.8 per cent. Luce is an Art History PhD student and currently serves as the Art History Graduate Department Representative to the SGPS. Her platform focuses on informing students about resources available to them, increasing community space and forging connections between different departments.
Abel Hazon, Law ’20, was elected Vice-President (Finance and Services) with a 95.8 per cent vote of confidence. Hazon currently serves as SGPS representative for the Master’s of Public istration and a Faculty of Law Student Ambassador. His platform focuses on financial transparency and ability in the SGPS, improving the health and dental plan and diversifying incoming sources of revenue for the society.
Lauren Peacock, Law ’19, received a 93.6 per cent vote of confidence, making her the 2018-19 Vice-President (Professional). Currently, she’s the society’s Vice-President (Finance). She ran on a platform that focuses on improving SGPS career week and increasing communication within the society.
Vice-President (Graduate) elect Leo Erlikhman received a 89.2 per cent vote of confidence and ran on a platform based on diversifying SGPS programming and increasing communication. Erlikhman – a Sociology Master’s student – currently serves as an SGPS representative to the Sociology Graduate Students Association.
The SGPS saw 1577 of 4234 voters this election season, constituting a 36.5 per cent turnout. According to current SGPS President Adam Grotsky, this is the highest in recent history.
“The credit for this milestone is owed to all students who engaged in the democratic process, and all candidates who bravely put themselves in the public eye for consideration,” he said. “I’m now looking forward to the transition period that lies ahead.”
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