Nick Klitzing, sophomore in LAS, was declared the unofficial winner of the Student Trustee elections by the Student Elections Commission Thursday.

The commission also released unofficial winners of Illinois Student Senate elections and the results of the three referendum questions Thursday evening in room 314 of the Illini Union. Many students came to the Union to find out the results to the elections, which began Tuesday and closed at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. A total of 8,535 ballots were cast, and the official results will be released Friday, pending appeals.

Ryan Ruzic, sophomore in LAS, was the only incumbent Student Senator in a competitive race to be reelected.

Students also voted to retain the SORF fee, raise the SORF fee from $10 to $14 and increase the MTD and Saferides fee by $5 to $38 per semester.

Klitzing, who won by a comfortable margin, said he was ecstatic about the results.

“I was in this campaign with my heart and soul,” he said. “I am ready to work as student trustee for the entire student body at the University.”

Klitzing attributed his success to his collaboration with several student organizations, and congratulated the other student trustee candidates for running dignified campaigns.

“I am proud to have campaigned against seven highly distinguished leaders in the community,” Klitzing said.

Ritu Parikh, freshman in LAS, ran for the position on the Student Senate of LAS in the field of Social Sciences. She said the competition she faced was tough, running against thirteen other people.

“I ran to get more involved on campus,” she said. “I want to have more of an influence on what goes on at the University, especially with issues that I directly deal with everyday.”

Parikh, who did not win a seat in this year’s elections, said she plans on running again next year.

“I learned a lot from the campaign process that can help me get a head start on the competition for next year,” she said.

Zenobia Ravji, freshman in LAS, won one of the 4 Student Senate seats to represent the students majoring in the Humanities in LAS. She ran a successful campaign, but was criticized for her methods.

“I used fliers with my photograph on them and put them up everywhere,” she said. “I received much e-mail from people saying that I had no issues to run on and was merely a face.”

Ravji said the criticisms did not affect her, and that the fliers were crucial in her victory.

Alyson Kirkpatrick, a freshman in LAS, won a seat in one of the most competitive races: accountancy. Kirkpatrick beat out the incumbent candidate running, Hassen Al-Shawaf.

She said she was overwhelmed when she heard that she won the position.

“I definitely did not expect to win,” she said. “I was very stressed throughout the entire campaign.”

Kirkpatrick said one of her goals would be to bring stability to the ever-changing Student Senate.

“I joined the Senate in the fall, and I have gained a lot of important knowledge about working in committees,” she said. “I figured since I had already accomplished something in the area, I might as well try to run for the position.”

Klitzing, President of Students for Chief Illiniwek, said his first and foremost goal as the student trustee would be the preservation of the chief.

“I want the Board of Trustees to come to a consensus conclusion on the issue,” he said. “I want to continue to educate people and lobby support for the Chief as our mascot.”

Klitzing also said he will work to lower the tuition to compensate for the decrease in financial aid, as well as improving the parking situation.

Ravji said there are many things she wants to accomplish as a Student Senator, as well.

“The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the biggest school within U of I,” she said. “I hope to have a big influence on my specific area of humanities, which deals with languages and philosophy.”

Ravji also said she plans on working to improve diversity at the University of Illinois, even though she was told by many people that the campus was already ahead in this area.

“I specifically want to add more students who are underrepresented, like Latinos and African-Americans,” she said.