This year’s 34th Student Government Elections, held March 21 to the 24, were the first elections for the position of Student Body President. Joshua Force, a junior majoring in political science, was one of the three candidates running for the position. Force came in third, losing to Joshua Chaisson.
Force was shocked to learn his running mate Chaisson had won.
“It boils down to I didn’t activate people like [Chaisson] did,” said Force. He had felt the main race was between Senator Caroline Young and himself. Force believes focusing his attention and energy away from Chaisson hurt his chance of being the President. Also, he explains that perhaps he was not speaking to the right audience Force, also felt confident the debate and his visibility around campus would have given him the lead over Chaisson.
Force is continuing to do government work.
At the University level, he expressed an interest in staying involved in next years’ election without running himself.
“I’d like to run somebody else’s campaign,” said Force. “I think it would be fun to be in the process.”
At a state level, Force went to Augusta last week to speak to the state legislature on the bond packages. These bond packages would give more funding for new buildings here at USM, along with other UMaine schools. Force says he wants to tell the legislators how important their money and their support is to USM.
Force is a member of the Model United Nations Club and the Honors Student Organization. He has also worked along with the Student Senate and the Board of Student Organizations.