More than a week after polls closed, students at William Paterson still don’t know who won in the Student Government Association elections and SGA leaders have not provided an explanation.
What’s happening:
- SGA elections closed Thursday, April 16.
- As of April 28, no results have been announced through social media, email, meetings, or in any official way.
- Student leaders have declined to comment publicly on the delay.
What they’re saying:
- Vice President of Academic Affairs Mark Spuhler said April 23 he “probably won’t know about the outcome or about the total number of people who voted for at least another week or two.”
- SGA adviser Donna Minnich Spuhler called the situation “a sensitive subject,” adding she has “recused herself from being involved in the election process.”
- She also discouraged The Beacon from asking students about the election during the SGA Leadership Award Ceremony, saying it could “bring down the mood” of the event.
Between the lines:
Uncertainty among SGA leadership about the process, and what information will be shared, has made it unclear who is overseeing the election timeline or when students can expect answers.
The other side:
- It’s unclear whether administrative, procedural, or other issues are causing the delay, as no officials have publicly explained the holdup.
Attempts to reach officials:
- Requests for comment were sent to SGA Financial Manager Jaime Oyola and Vice President of Student Development Francisco Diaz.
- Neither has responded.
What’s next:
Students may not see results for another one to two weeks, according to Spuhler, though no official timeline has been confirmed.
The bottom line:
A delay in releasing election results, combined with limited communication from SGA leaders, has left students without clear information about the outcome.
