Days of campaigning across campus drew to a close Friday with the conclusion of this fall's Student Union elections, which included an upset by political newcomer Choon Woo Ha '08 in the treasurer race. In a special election held to replace the seat left vacant since early summer by Harrison Chizik's '07 resignation, Choon Woo Ha '08 slid past Brian Paternostro '07 by a margin of 14 votes in the final round.

In a first round mired by a technical glitch (see story), Woo Ha finished one vote ahead of Paternostro, which required a runoff without the option of writing in a candidate.

Woo Ha called his own campaign a "very, very long shot," because he saw Brian Paternostro as a "really tough competitor." Paternostro served as quad senator last year before losing the race for Union vice-president by two votes last spring. He served as the Union's director of communications until his resignation to run for treasurer. Over the summer, in his capacity as a Union Executive Office member, he assumed some of the treasurer's responsibilities.

"I knew from the beginning that if I didn't work my butt off that I am going to lose very badly," Woo Ha said.

Paternostro placed a positive spin on his loss. "I ran because I wanted to see someone qualified and competent win, and that happened in this election, even though it wasn't me."

On Sunday night, the Union Senate confirmed Paternostro as director of communications once again.

Rajiv Ramakrishnan '10 and Jenna Brofsky '10 were elected as Senators for the Class of 2010.

Ramakrishnan, who participated in student government in high school, said he felt "very moved" by the election outcome.

Jason Gray '10 was elected as Senator for Massell Quad in the first round. He said going door-to-door "was by far the most fun" part of his campaign.

Eric Alterman, '09 the new Castle Quad Senator said, "I think that the Castle often goes unappreciated at Brandeis, especially in the sophomore class," he said. "It's not really seen as the center of activity, so one thing I really want to do is bring a lot more events and activities to the Castle." He also said he wants to respond to complaints he has heard about laundry and parking for sophomores.

These complaints were echoed by Jessica Blumberg '09, who won the election for Senator of East Quad. She served on the North Quad council last year. She said the parking situation could be solved by allowing students to again park in the lot behind East Quad, which now only faculty and staff can access. "[It's] probably about one-third full at all times."

Senator for Ziv Quad Robert Schwartz '08 offered broader goals, including ensuring the University conforms to the Green Dorm Referendum passed last spring by the student body, which seeks to ensure the new residence hall being built conforms to environmental standards.

Etan Dayan '08, a community advisor, was elected Senator for the Charles River Apartments.

For Adam Breiterman '07, being the new senator for the Village Quad is a way "to give back to the community as a senior." He said he intends to focus on the development of the activist resource center in the currently empty Village space, and increase safety for the quad because of the assault which occurred there last spring.

Winning the uncontested election for senator of the Foster Mods came as a complete surprise to Nicholas Freeman '07.

"I wasn't running a write-in campaign, really," he said. "I know of three friends who wrote me in the first time and I don't know who everyone else was and I didn't write myself in."

The other winners in the fall elections include Juhi Chadha '09 as senator for Rosenthal Quad, Jonathan Winstone '07 as senator for Off-Campus Students and Shaina Gilbert as senator for the Transitional Year Program.