Crimson prepares to take office

With the controversy put to rest and Crimson named winner of the 2004 IU Student Association election, the party executive members are preparing for their year ahead in office.\nCrimson was named the winner of the election March 18 after the student body Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the IUSA Election Commission's decision to disqualify Big Red. Although it won the popular vote, the commission ruled campaign expenditures were not properly reported by Big Red and they intentionally falsified financial statements.\nThe Crimson executives will take office April 15. President-elect Tyson Chastain said the group is set to have an informational meeting with Dean of Students Richard McKaig within the next week to discuss current events in IUSA, as well as what lies ahead for the group and IUSA in the future. \n"This is the same kind of meeting we have every time a new student government comes into office," McKaig said. "We generally meet to get acquainted and to talk about what issues they plan to get accomplished for the following year." \nCrimson executives acknowledge there is a long road ahead.\n"With 38,000 students on campus, there's all kinds of issues," Chastain said. "The main goal is just to better student life. We first want to look at the structure of congress, talk to staff members, and get a hold of as many people as we can to talk to about what things they want to express."\nVice President-elect Jesse Laffen said Crimson is looking to get the administration into a new kind of flow.\n"It won't be anything radically different," he said. "Just a different and better way to organize things."\nChastain said Crimson is ready to try and better student life, but understands problems will lie ahead.\n"One of the biggest obstacles is always money," Chastain said. "That's something the University has to work with, and that's something IUSA always has to deal with. I think most importantly what everyone looks for in IUSA, or any student government, is our chance to make a change for the betterment of the students."\nWhile the Crimson executives are in charge because Big Red executives were disqualified from the election, Big Red members will still hold the majority in the IUSA Congress. While this split may pose potential problems for Crimson to pass their agenda, the party is confident it can be a positive thing for IUSA.\n"Hopefully, it will be for the betterment of IUSA as a whole," Chastain said. "Groups from each party now are in IUSA and there's a good diversification with the different parties."\nLaffen said that although it could be difficult, he feels the diversification will be helpful for IUSA.\n"We're going to have a very diverse group of people in IUSA," Laffen said. "I think it's beneficial for student government and I'm really excited for that. The quality of people in office and in the senate is what I can't wait for."\nLaffen said he is happy to put all the controversy behind him by taking office.\n"I think this whole election process has been something that both sides are glad to have over," he said." It's very, very exciting to get started and I think IUSA has a great year ahead."\nWhile the start has been slow for IUSA due to all of the issues surrounding the election, Chastain said Crimson is ready and prepared to have a great year.\n"I think it's definitely a reality-kicker," Chastain said. "Now it's time to put our feet in the door and get some work done. Other than that, I'm sure everyone had a fun spring break, but now it's time to get to work on the things we promised."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.