The Fairfield University Student Association election process is a rite of passage for student leaders, but meeting the required number of signatures can be a challenge. This year, three pairs of candidates originally declared to run for President and Vice President, but only one candidate actually ended up on the ballot.
Sophomore Matthew Doherty, who was running as Vice President with junior Hailey Guzman, fell short of the required signatures and was candid about his experience.
“I believe we were around 80 signatures short,” he admitted. Despite not qualifying for the ballot, Doherty described the process of gathering signatures as unexpectedly enjoyable. “It gives you the ability to reach out either in person or over email with students that you may be familiar with but have not spoken to in a bit. So it’s enjoyable to reconnect with certain individuals,” he said.
“It simply creates necessary commitment to the running process in my opinion,” noted Doherty, on whether the signature requirement created barriers. Doherty and Guzman decided against continuing as write-in candidates due to time constraints and other commitments.
“I do not believe the required number of signatures is unreasonable,” said FUSA President Courtney Sabogal.
Framing the signature requirement as preparation rather than a barrier, she emphasized the intentional structure behind the election system.
“To appear on the ballot, a ticket must collect 200 student signatures. In a community of more than 5,000 undergraduate students, this threshold helps ensure that candidates have engaged with a meaningful portion of the student body and have begun building the outreach and communication skills that are essential for a successful presidency.”
“Trying to be successful as a write-in campaign requires extended time and effort that I felt I did not want to prioritize over other commitments such as studying and classwork,” Doherty explained.
Reflecting on the experience, he added, “although not successful, it was a good experience, and I got to learn about the election process.”
Sabogal provided more information on the write-in process, describing it as having the same emphasis on structure and preparedness as the traditional election process.
“While write-in candidates may seem out of the ordinary, FUSA’s election code provides clear rules and regulations for nearly every scenario, including write-ins,” said Sabogal. “While some may view them as a ‘disruption’ or ‘hiccup,’ we see them as an unconventional yet entirely valid part of the election process.”
Out of 78 presidents the organization has had, only one, current senior Andrew Mejia, was elected as a write-in candidate, when he defeated another student who was running unopposed in the ballot.
Thomas Fitzmaurice and his running mate, Olivia La Bruno, successfully met the 200-signature requirement. They confirmed their submission after receiving official notice from the FUSA Court. Their approach involved reaching out personally to friends and classmates, explaining their campaign initiatives and the importance of student support.
Fitzmaurice acknowledged minor technical challenges, including difficulties accessing the signature form on Life@Fairfield.
“Sometimes people would have trouble accessing the link, many people were having trouble signing into Life@Fairfield initially. There were also many people having problems with signing in when people were not on the school’s WiFi,” he explained. Despite these minor setbacks, the team completed the process within a week.
They found the signature requirements reasonable: “It was daunting at first, but it was also necessary to get our campaign out there to the student body,” Fitzmaurice said. He also noted the election system’s accessibility, noting that the public petition form on Life@Fairfiled allowed transparency.
Both Fitzmaurice and La Bruno cited prior experience in FUSA as a motivator for running. “We have both been a part of FUSA for the past two to three years and have learned a lot about how FUSA operates and the issues on which students feel more passionate,” he said. “We are seriously approaching the role and feel we would be great representatives of the student body and would always give our best efforts toward relaying student issues to the administration.”
“While certain aspects may feel rigorous or daunting, they are intentionally designed to ensure that candidates are prepared for the responsibilities and challenges that come with serving as President or Vice President.” explained Sabogal.
