Before a crowd of over 200 students, parents and faculty, the VISION slate, led by Artemio Pimentel for president, swept the Associated Students, Inc., elections with three of the four executive positions late last Wednesday night.

Pimentel took over 44 percent of the popular vote, beating out Hans Weichhart of the Support US slate, who gained just under 38 percent, and Joe Devlin of Students First who finished with over 17 percent.

Other VISION winners included Eric Guerra, who won the office of Executive Vice President and Calvin Davis, who was voted Vice President for University Affairs.

Tom Hughes of the Support US slate will be the Vice President of Finance.

“We started together, we?re going to finish together,” Pimentel said of his VISION supporters.

Davis, who campaigned heavily on the Children?s Center evening program issue, consoled members of his VISION slate that did not get elected.

“[It?s bad] that people who worked their hardest didn?t get in,” Davis said.

A total of 3,182 students voted, making up 12.6 percent of the eligible voters.

The voter turnout is one of the highest on record in a non-referendum year, according to Executive Director Carol Ackerson. Last year?s turnout was 9.7 percent. Typically, large referendums that involve student fees are what drive voters to the poles in large numbers.

“Clearly this is a record turnout for a ballot that does not have a referendum on it,” Ackerson said. “It shows people are interested in who the leadership is going to be and not just an issue of whether people are going to pay more or not.”

Loud rallying cries by slate supporters, bolstered by noisemakers, preceded the formal announcements in the University Union. Current ASI President Jason Bryant, who announced the winners, had to pause after reading each name while the crowd broke into cheers, tears and applause.

“This is five times the number of students we had last year,” Bryant said.

The forming of slates helped get large numbers of students involved, Ackerson said.

Bryant attributed the high voter turnout to efforts by the current and past ASI boards to promote student involvement. California State Student Association Representative Shaun Lumachi pointed out the success of the Sting team, an ASI organization designed to encourage student participation.

Scott Ribble, a junior in support of the Support US slate, said that a strong voter turnout would legitimize the winners.

“I think it?s really important that students have a voice and that we know our leadership,” Ribble said.

Devlin said the VISION majority in executive offices will bring new perspective to campus.

“From the start, it was a free fight,” he said.

Devlin hopes that the new administration will be involved in the decision-making process on university-wide issues that affect students. He mentioned the future of parking as a key issue.

After the announcement by Bryant, Pimentel and other winners raced though the Union and jumped into the fountain in the Library Quad.

“The tradition is alive and well and it was fun to see,” Ackerson said.

The position of Director of Arts and Letters went to J.J. Hurley. Ryan Murphy won forDirector of Business and the Director of Education will be Jennifer Estrada. Clara Olmedo will become Director of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Director of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will be Luke Wood. Mike Plescia will be the Director of Health and Human services. Director of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies will be Lisanne Nakayama and Director of Undeclared will be Krista Dedriksen. Director of Post Baccalaureate Studies will be Mohamed Hamada. The new offices will take effect June 1.