After weeks of public campaigning and months of planning platforms and making posters, the 2009-2010 school year's senate and class council hopefuls finally heard the election results. Online voting began Wednesday at 8 a.m. and closed Thursday at noon. The candidates were informed of the results shortly after.

The following students will serve in Vanderbilt Student Government's senate and class councils for the upcoming academic year:

A&S Council Attorney General
Ning Foncham

A&S Senators:
Maria Crist
Tommy Obenchain
Josh Sirchio

A&S Council President:
John Gaffney

A&S Council Vice President:
Jeremy Strickland

A&S Council Representatives:
Matthew DeNuzzo
Robert Munro
Lucas Scholl
Amit Shintre
Sabrina Smith
Melodee Toles

Blair Senator:
Thomas Crespo

Blair Council President:
Jordan Holland

Engineering Senator:
Andrew Morse

Engineering Council President:
Lauren Nichols

Engineering Council Vice President:
Melanie Gault

Engineering Council Secretary:
Bruce Spencer

Engineering Council Treasurer:
Jason Ogg

Engineering Council Representatives:
Dylan Bunch
Andre Stevenson
Nicholas Vass

Peabody Senator:
Kate Goudge

Peabody Council President:
Jane Slatton

Peabody Council Vice President:
Naveed Nanjee

Peabody Council Secretary:
Jalencia Burchett

Peabody Council Treasurer:
Tim Gilbert

Peabody Council Representative:
Judy Lewis

The election had a 44 percent voter turnout, up from a 42 percent turnout in the primaries.

Popular issues in the election this year are evidenced by many similarities in the winners' platforms. The majority of elected candidates promised such changes as improved academic advising, upgrading OASIS, expanding the meal plan with Chick-fil-A and more Taste of Nashville options, and making VSG more accessible to all Vanderbilt students.

First-year student and newly elected Arts and Science senator Maria Crist said she would like to see changes take place immediately, starting with a student discount plan at local stores at restaurants with the use of a Commodore Card.

"I am so excited to have the opportunity to better serve the student body and address students' concerns," Crist said. "I'll be accessible and open to suggestions to better help everyone, but I really want to get started on implementing the Commodore Card discount plan. It's important we get everything done in the spring, and I think it could be really useful for students."

The official student government turnover dinner will take place on March 18. At this time, newly elected candidates, including senators, class council members, cabinet members, President-elect Wyatt Smith and Vice President-elect Lori Murphy will officially assume their respective positions.