Only minutes before the results were announced last Thursday, the two presidential candidates in this year’s Students’ Administrative Council (SAC) election were outside, smoking and talking together.

But after they returned to the Junior Common Room at University College to hear the results of the election, only one walked out as president: Rocco Kusi-Achampong.

Kusi-Achampong and his “We the Students” ticket won with 1378 votes, while their rivals, the “Take Back SAC” ticket headed by Noel Semple, garnered 921 votes.

“Now, we can get work done,” Kusi-Achampong said, before leaving to celebrate with friends.

The president-elect said he needs to focus on his studies after spending so much time campaigning. “I plan to spend a month in the library so I don’t risk starting the Low G.P.A. Students’ Association,” Kusi-Achampong joked.

Kusi-Achampong said he is already working with the current SAC administration to complete the transition between administrations. “We’re in the process of transition every day.”

The new SAC administration takes over after a joint board meeting on April 29.

Kusi-Achampong said he is writing letters to incoming Ontario premier Ernie Eves, as well as opposition leader Dalton McGuinty, NDP leader Howard Hampton and Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman, to introduce his new team and encourage cooperation.

“The work has already begun,” Kusi-Achampong said.

He added that is working on implementing his platform as he takes office. “We don’t anticipate any changes that would affect our campaign promises,” Kusi-Achampong said.

Semple and his running mates, Kelly Smith and Andrew Hawkins, left the room looking disappointed. They retreated to Einstein’s pub on College St. with their supporters to get over their loss.

The rest of the evening was a mix of elation and disappointment as candidates heard whether they had won or lost.

Mike Foderick, the Chief Returning Officer for this year’s election, congratulated all the candidates on a clean campaign.

“If you look at all the penalties assigned in this election, almost all were assigned because of the actions of their campaign managers and advisors,” Foderick said.

Foderick added he is planning to recommend changes to the election code based on his experience this year.

“Spending limits, I’m gonna recommend, should be brought way down.”

Foderick also said the system of demerit points should be revamped so there is “a lot less subjectivity as to how they are assigned.”

“It makes it pretty hard to disqualify someone.”

Foderick was pleased with the turnout in the election—approximately eight per cent. He said it was the second highest turnout of any SAC election. “Only last year was higher.”

Foderick said his experience as returning officer was marred by the frequent threats of lawsuits against him. “They were thrown around like nobody’s business,” Foderick said.

“I was accused of everything from bribery to corruption.”