Photo by Melissa Kabluczenko 

After a tense evening in Bar Yours, the winners of the 2012 elections were announced last night. 

Over 2700 Salford students voted in the election - the second highest turnout in the Union's history. With over 40 candidates standing for four positions, the elections were fiercely contested, and there was also a head-to-head battle for the Presidential position. 

The elections were held alongside two referenda, the results of which were announced first. The first referenda asked students whether or not the Students' Union should adopt a safe alcohol policy. 427 students voted "yes" and 611 voted "no". 

The second referenda asked whether or not the University should increase its provision of social and study space. 949 students voted "yes", with only 73 students voting "no". 

Next, the Student Council results were announced. Your new Student Council members are Rohan Nair, Muftau Akintoye, Eliot Johnson, Amy Fairclough, Liam McLoughlin, Cameron Craigie, Sonia Ekause, John Hart, Ryan Snape, Daniel Rhodes-Mumby, Oscar Rodmell, Mohammad Alsam, Megan Hughes, Ross Malloy, and Rebecca Morgan. 

After another tense period - and performances from the Dance Society - the trustees were announced. The new trustees are Ben Hampson, Chrissy Patman, Efosa Paul Ogbeni, and Zainab Minhas. 

After performances from the Salford Shimmies, the Belly Dancing society, the Vice Presidents were announced. Tom Doyle was reelected in the first round - with a massive 629 first-preference votes - followed by Mishal Saeed and Elisaveta Prodromova. 

Finally, the new President for the 2012/13 was announced – Christina Kennedy, who won with a landslide victory of 1358 votes – the highest number of first preference votes ever! 

Christina Kennedy said: “I am so pleased to have got in – I feel amazing!

“My first priority for the upcoming year will be postgraduate fees.”

The newly elected students will begin their positions over the summer.