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Title: Student president ousted at WSU

By Novelda Sommers The Wichita Eagle

March 30, 2000

Wichita State University students voted to oust their student body president in an election Wednesday and Thursday.

J. Alberto Fregoso lost the recall election by 60 votes, with 269 votes for his removal and 209 against it.

Ryan Martin, Student Government Association chief election commissioner, said 48 votes were lost because of a computer glitch, but even if all 48 had been against Fregoso's removal, he still would have lost.

Dennis Wayne Caldwell, student body vice president, will serve as president for the remainder of Fregoso's term, Martin said at a news conference Thursday night at the campus student center.

Fregoso's term would have ended June 30. He did not attend the news conference. Reached by telephone Thursday night, he refused to comment.

Ernie Webb, a sophomore and student senator, said he was glad the matter was resolved.

"It has been incredibly stressful," he said. "I'm glad the students' voices were finally heard."

Martin said Fregoso could appeal to the university's Supreme Court.

Fregoso's removal comes less than two weeks before the spring election for next year's SGA officers. He has filed to run for SGA vice president.

Fregoso, 29, had been under pressure to give up his position since January, when it was learned that he used his family's food stamps in November to obtain food for an SGA fund-raiser, then turned in the receipts and was reimbursed by the student organization.

A petition to recall Fregoso, signed by 297 students, was submitted March 15 to Martin.

Reach Novelda Sommers at nsommers@wichitaeagle.com or at 268-6340. Contributing: Jennifer Comes Roy of The Eagle.

) The Wichita Eagle http://www.wichitaeagle.com/news/local/learning/docs/wsuprez0331_txt.htm

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 31, 2000