McKee named senior president

Wharton junior Brandt McKee was elected president of next year's senior class board in a runoff election last week. Stressing the need to foster stronger community feelings, McKee said last night one of his primary aims as president will be to "get a little bit of school spirit going here." Other members of the newly-elected board are Vice President Valerie Thompson, Treasurer J.J. Ufberg, Secretary Christine Hutcheson, Historian Jennifer Causing, College representatives Pam Darby and Joy Richter, Engineering representative Risa Finkle, Nursing representative Christi Smith and Wharton representative Aaron Lubowitz. McKee, who defeated College junior Felix Urena in the runoff, said he has seen a lack of minority participation in past senior events. He said he will work to improve communication with various minority groups, like the United Minorities Council, the Chinese Student Association and the Black Student League. He said "getting feedback" from these groups will help the class plan events which all students can enjoy. McKee emphasized that because he is just one of 10 members on the board, he will not exercise much greater influence on the board's decisions than other members. "Hopefully, our board will be one that works very horizontally," he said. "Everyone's going to be equal and we're going to get things done." "I'm just very happy to be working with the people who were elected," he added. "It's just a great group of people and I think we're going to have an outstanding year." Controversy tainted last week's election when the senior class board disqualified College junior Marisa Sifontes from the general election because she appeared in a Daily Pennsylvanian story on her election to the presidency of the Black Inter-Greek Council. Mike D'Esopo, the board's outgoing treasurer, said last week Sifontes was disqualified from the race because she was "mentioned in the DP during campaigning." D'Esopo later said the board disqualified Sifontes because she was directly quoted in the story. The rules governing the election limit the exposure and publicity a candidate may receive during the campaign.

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