The brand of change accompanying the Creighton Students Union elections will include a more open student government, said the soon-to-be CSU president.

On the same day the nation elected Barack Obama as its new commander-in-chief, Creighton University held elections for Creighton Student Union president and CSU vice president of student affairs.

In a close election, Arts & Sciences junior Adam Hare won out over Business junior Dillon Miskimins for CSU president and Arts & Sciences junior Rajeev Anchan was elected vice president over Arts & Sciences sophomore Seth Rich.

Naturally, Hare said he was happy to win.

“I’m relieved more than anything,” Hare said. “I feel like I worked really hard, not just this last week in campaigning, but over the past couple of years and sort of getting to know campus and getting involved.

“It’s nice to know that the students appreciate that, and I’m going to reward them for electing me with doing my best job I can.”

Hare also said he would like to specifically thank his friends, his girlfriend and his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha.

“It might sound kind of cheesy, but it’s like everyone who wore a T-shirt with my name on it, wore a sticker, took a sucker, took a handout, read my poster, heard me speak at a meeting — those people are a part of CSU now, they invested themselves in it. I hope that they know that role doesn’t end with me being elected.”

Hare also praised his opponent, Miskimins, in the race.

Hare spoke well of Miskimins’s service as the vice-president of finance and said his challenge will pressure Hare to do better as president.

“I want him to know that he campaigned extremely well. He and I running against each other for CSU president was the best thing that could have happened for CSU as an organization because it was two very strong candidates who were both very aware of what the position entailed and very willing to dedicate themselves to it.”

Miskimins said he was disappointed to not be elected, but he is confident CSU will be in good hands.

“It’s obviously hard to lose something that you’re so passionate about and that you’ve been working on for the past year,” Miskimins said. “But at the same time I feel like this is one of the best years, the best CSU elections that have happened. All the candidates were extremely qualified. There’s really nothing to lose — CSU will benefit from whoever got into office just because of the quality of candidates.

“It was an absolute pleasure to run beside Adam. He’s extremely qualified.

“I think we agree on where CSU needs to go and the issues that’s its going to have to tackle,” he said.

Miskimins also said Hare understands the importance of issues like recycling and off-campus safety. “I’m just excited to see how under his leadership those are going to be accomplished.”

Hare said he is excited to serve with Anchan, who he feels is a leader who will work hard for the students.

“The vice president of Student Affairs has to be dedicated to the representative body of CSU and has to be dedicated to the concerns of the students, and I’ve never met anyone more dedicated to the representative body than Rajeev, bar none. He cares about students and will work intensely hard and intensely dedicated to make sure that, if you have a concern as a student, it’s going to be addressed.”

Hare said one of CSU’s main goals in the next year is to be more open with students. “[My] door will be open all the time. Any person on campus is welcome to walk in that door anytime.”

Rich said he was disappointed the candidates only had eight days in which to campaign with students on campus. Candidates normally have two weeks to campaign, but that time was shortened this year because of Fall Break.

However, Rich was also confident the next executive team will do well. He said he hopes to see CSU become more open to students in the next year, and he will serve to the best of his abilities as a representative.

“I just hope the exec team will enact the things we were talking about in the campaign,” he said.

Hare said the first thing he will do is motivate the CSU representatives and instill in them of the representatives’ responsibilities.

“We have a great batch of representatives. Everyone I saw on that ballot was really dedicated, everyone who got elected is going to be [a] really strong leader.

“What we can do best within CSU is make sure that we are a representation of what Creighton wants,” he said. “I’m very excited for the potential for impact that CSU can have in the next year.”

Hare said one challenge in his term will be to build CSU into a brand in which every student knows what CSU does and that it is at the service of all students.

“It starts with building an image, but it has to become building an idea, which is tough,” Hare said.

“I want to make sure everyone knows that CSU’s there for them.”