Press Clipping: William Paterson University - SGA Election Results Released After Three-Week Delay

SGA Election Results Released After Three-Week Delay
Disputes and Appeals Delay Certification as Abbassi Wins SGA Presidency

May 11, 2026
By Brooke Holzhauer

The results of William Paterson University's Student Government Association election were announced to SGA members in an email Monday, May 11, ending a three-week delay following allegations of campaign violations, appeals and procedural disputes that delayed certification of the vote.

Fatimah Abbassi was elected SGA president, while Izzy Aberde won the race for executive vice president. Casey Kizito was elected vice president of public relations, Ryanne Abuhadba won vice president of student life, Yanibel Gomez won vice president of academic affairs, Koushani Gupta won vice president of the judicial review board and Luca Espardinez was elected vice president of allocations.

The results were announced by Sehaj Osan, former SGA president, following the creation of a Temporary Elections Review Panel to review complaints related to the election. The panel delayed the release of vote totals and raised questions about how election disputes and communication were handled.

This year's election featured contested races across much of the executive board, including the presidential race between Abbassi and Mark Spuhler. Other contested positions included executive vice president, vice president of academic affairs, vice president of public relations and vice president of student life. Spuhler did not respond to two requests for comment from The Beacon after an interview conducted after the election review process began.

Donna Minnich Spuhler, SGA adviser and Mark Spuhler's mother, recused herself from involvement in this semester's elections after initially announcing the election on WPConnect. University officials have not publicly explained the reason for the recusal.

Minnich Spuhler previously said SGA holds elections every spring for the upcoming fall semester and again during the fall to fill vacancies, with committees intentionally leaving open positions for new students.

"Students must self-nominate if they want to be placed on the election ballot," Spuhler said.

She also said university staff verify each candidate's eligibility, including GPA requirements and semesters served on SGA.

The Temporary Elections Review Panel, according to Francisco Diaz, associate vice president for student development, included Diaz as chair, Jaime Oyola, Jennifer Tumlin, Tara Nucum, executive vice president, and Greek Senate representative Julie Gerlitz. Diaz said the panel was created to review unresolved election matters, including reported campaign violations, challenges and appeals.

"The election results are currently being held in abeyance," Diaz said in an earlier written statement provided to The Beacon before results were released. "This will remain the case until all outstanding election matters, including any challenges and appeals, are fully reviewed through the newly established Temporary Elections Review Panel."

During a recent SGA Senate meeting, where members raised questions about the review panel and how it would operate, Diaz said the situation was unlike anything he had encountered professionally.

"I've worked at four institutions, and I've never seen anything like this," Diaz said.

The Judicial Review Board, SGA's internal judicial body, oversees constitutional disputes, election complaints, impeachment hearings and appeals involving student government matters. Documents obtained by The Beacon from Spuhler show that SGA election guidelines require complaints to be submitted within two business days after polls close and hearings to be scheduled within three business days.

The 13-page election document outlines rules governing campaign conduct, including restrictions on harassment, "mudslinging," defacing campaign materials and campaigning in designated noncampaigning zones. Candidates found responsible for violations can face disciplinary action ranging from warnings to disqualification.

The same guidelines state that election results are typically expected within 24 hours after polls close, making the three-week delay highly unusual.

Abbassi said the hearings and complaints created tension among candidates as the review process unfolded.

"There are a lot of candidates that are under fire right now," Abbassi said. "There's a lot of nitpicking of people's campaigns and things like that."

She said accusations of favoritism and bias complicated efforts to resolve disputes.

"There was a lot of this idea of bias being thrown around," she said. "Whatever decision any committee would come to, it was like, ‘Well, you're friends with this person, and you're friends with that person.'"

Abbassi, who previously served as a senator and vice president of student life, said this was the first heavily contested election she had experienced during her three years in SGA.

"I think this is the first time that at least I've been here that has been contested," she said.

This year's ballot included two candidates for president and three candidates for executive vice president, along with contested races across several committees.

Abbassi said one of her priorities as president will be creating additional spaces for commuter students on campus.

"I really want to make more commuter spaces," she said. "There's a lack of designated lounge areas for commuter students where they can just relax during their breaks in between classes."

She also pointed to her previous work as vice president of student life, including an initiative to expand access to free menstrual products on campus.

"My biggest goal was to have free pads and tampons in the bathrooms," Abbassi said, adding that the proposal had already passed through the university president's office.

Abbassi also said her involvement in organizations including the Muslim Student Association and Students for Justice in Palestine shaped her leadership approach and understanding of representation on campus.

The controversy surrounding the delayed results frustrated some students who said they felt disconnected from both the election process and SGA communication.

One student worker, who requested anonymity, said clearer communication was needed.

"The lack of transparency is appalling," the student said. "The fact that they need to be questioned brings to light the questionable integrity of members of the SGA and the standards SGA holds its members to."

Another student said SGA is more visible during event promotion than in governance matters.

The issue also received attention from the American Student Government Association, a national organization that provides training, consulting and resources for student government. Executive Director and founder Butch Oxendine said election disputes are not uncommon on college campuses, but public institutions should prioritize transparency during review processes.

"Student government at a public institution has to turn over records and has to have open meetings," Oxendine said. "The exception being personal information about a student. In this case, any hearing should be open to the public, and I'm disappointed they haven't gone that route."

Oxendine said delays in election certification have happened at other universities, including Louisiana State University, but warned that prolonged uncertainty can weaken confidence in student government.

"We want an operating government, and the new people who were elected deserve to have the full term of office," Oxendine said.

Oxendine also said low voter turnout remains a challenge for student governments nationwide, making transparency especially important.

"The average voter turnout for public schools is 10% to 15%," Oxendine said.

While William Paterson's turnout figures and vote totals have not yet been publicly released, Oxendine estimated participation likely falls below national averages. He pointed to turnout struggles at Rutgers University and Montclair State University in recent years, where participation fell below 5%.

As of Monday evening, it remained unclear whether SGA plans to publicly release vote totals or provide a detailed explanation of the review process.