Murphy inaugurated after Yoss walks out

Last Wednesday's ASLMU presidential inauguration was as tumultuous as the election season itself.

After proclaiming that the election was decided by "a handful of administrators," and calling ASLMU President-elect Stephen A. Murphy a "cheater," Stephen Yoss, this year's ASLMU president, walked out of the ceremony to express his refusal to condone the inauguration proceedings.

After Yoss' presidential address, which was made at the annual Crimson and Blue ceremony in Roski Dining Hall, Murphy and Executive Vice President-elect Seranda E. Bray, who received 998 write-in votes, were sworn into their respective positions by President Robert Lawton, S.J.

At the beginning of the night, Lawton acknowledged that there were still "feelings and strong emotions" about the election, and advised that "if you won or lost, there are all kinds of lessons to be learned." He emphasized the importance of "learning what it takes to serve your community," which he said sometimes means getting over "feelings and emotions."

Yoss, who received 455 votes in this year's election, said he objected to the inauguration because the ASLMU Constitution, which he had "sworn to defend," was "disregarded" and rendered "meaningless" when Judicial Affairs overruled the ASLMU Judiciary's decision to disqualify Murphy.

Yoss said, "I never dreamt that LMU would allow for cheaters to prosper." He added that the administration had yet to explain "why a cheater will be sitting behind my desk next year."

Lawton inaugurated Murphy and Bray after Yoss' address.

Afterwards, Murphy attempted to project their vision of change at the conclusion of the inauguration proceedings. Murphy outlined three ways he and Bray hope to "reinvent ASLMU." They included adding an interculturalism chair who would focus on "race, class, sexuality and gender issues on campus," as well as taking a closer look at LMU's core curriculum. Lastly, Murphy said he hopes to "provide opportunities and programs that will allow students to live fully and embrace this university."

Although Murphy was inaugurated, the terms of office for the ASLMU president run through the end of the academic year. Commencemnt will mark the official transition of the presidency.