Elections for the ASUI spring election ended last Friday, April 10, at 5 p.m. with Lance Butikofer and Alma Azocar Agurto being elected ASUI President and Vice President respectively for the 2026-27 academic year.
Due to a lack of candidates, all seven of those who ran for senate seats were elected into the seven open positions. This includes Charlie Peacock, Isaias Vera-Ramirez, KJ Parsons, Miguel Albir, Rainy Rocker, Scarlett Cromwell and Shirlyn Ngure.
Butikofer is a finance and economics major and served as the director of finance for ASUI for the fall 2025 semester. He is currently studying abroad in the UK, and has also held positions outside of ASUI, being a tutor through the Vandal success program and working with Vandal Solutions as a sales associate and as their executive strategist.
Azocar Agurto is an international studies and political science major who currently serves as the director of legislative affairs for ASUI. She also serves on the executive boards for the Poli-Sci Society and the Pre-Law Society on campus. Azocar Agurto said that one of the biggest roles she has held was being the Residence Hall Association chairman of her housing community as a freshman.
Butikofer and Azocar Agurto said they wanted to create a community of hardworking, involved, passionate, and future thinking people for their cabinet, as well as the ASUI culture next year.
“I really want to see a cabinet be a powerful, involved group of people. People who are not sighing that they have another meeting, but are excited to be there. They want to do the work. ASUI runs on smaller compensations based on what stipends look like, so we run on passion,” said Butikofer.
They also highlighted their campaign group.
“We have six qualified, amazing, active people who are not really receiving anything for helping us but gave everything to do so. We have people who ordered things over spring break when they were on vacation, we have people who helped us table, take photos, edited things on mthe fly, and that kind of energy is something we want to take to a larger stage for cabinet. We want it to be active,” said Azocar Agurto.
Butikofer and Azocar Agurto said they ran their campaign on the three pillars of support, voice and opportunity. The first pillar aims to increase student access to resources. To increase student voice Azocar Agurto and Butikofer, said they want to improve engagement in ASUI, as well as create space for students to voice concerns on both on UI issues, and on local and state government concerns.
Lastly, to create opportunities for students, Butikofer said he wants to connect campus departments with students in need of internships or experiential learning.
Azocar Agurto also added that anyone can be a part of the ASUI cabinet, no matter their previous affiliation with ASUI.
“You don’t have to be a senator. We are open to look at departments, clubs, organizations, that maybe not as involved in ASUI, but are incredibly qualified for the job,” said Azocar Agurto.
The transfer of power between the current ASUI administration, headed by President Seyi Arogundade and Vice President Bryant Sitts, will be on May 6 at 7 p.m.
Josie Adjanohoun can be reached at [email protected].