By Elizabeth Dudek
Adriana Campos woke up on the floor of a West Village G classroom last Wednesday to find the Resident Student Association (RSA) General Council staring at her.
Campos, who was running for the position of vice president for administration for RSA, had taken a break from her question and answer session during the debate when she felt lightheaded and dizzy.
“I couldn’t process the questions. I felt myself kind of detaching from the room so I asked for a break,” Campos said. “I walked over to the side of the room, and had a small cup of Coke. What I remember was putting the cup on the counter, and then waking up on the floor.”
Members of the general council had their attention drawn to the side of the room when they heard a loud sigh and saw Campos fall to the floor and convulse briefly. Campos, who ultimately lost the election, woke up seconds later to find Jason Russak and Elliot Inz, both first aid-trained members of RSA, leaning over her. Russak instructed her to remain lying on the floor because she still felt dizzy and told Margaret Horton, president of RSA, to call the Northeastern University Police Department, who sent an officer to the room minutes later.
“[The officer] offered to have me sent to the hospital. I thought about it, but I was feeling okay by that point so I felt like I could go on with elections,” Campos said. “He recommended that I drink lots of water and take off my shoes.”
Campos said she thought the episode was a result of several things.
“I hadn’t really eaten much all day because I was pretty nervous. Also, the fact that I was standing for about half an hour in high heels,” Campos said. “I think what mostly had to do with it was the stress of answering some pretty hard questions and being pretty nervous about it.”
Campos lost the election to Elizabeth Cilia, the current vice president for administration. Cilia said she felt her year of experience was a valuable tool, which made her the best candidate.
“I think in this position there is a big learning curve where there’s a lot to learn throughout the year,” Cilia said. “I think that having the past year under my belt, I’ll be able to use everything I’ve learned, whereas, if [Campos] is elected, she will have to start out basically where I did last year.”
Prior to the episode, general councilors asked Campos numerous questions concerning her resignation from the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) executive board, a group consisting of the top resident leaders who represent students living on campus.
Members were concerned Campos had left her position in the middle of last semester and questioned her dedication to organizations in which she is involved.
“I thought I had made the right decision at the time for both myself and for the NRHH e-board, and I thought by the time Wednesday came around that would all be water under the bridge,” Campos said.
Other members were concerned with her ability to balance being a first-year Resident Assistant (RA) and a first-time RSA e-board member at once next year.
“I’m counting on having some flexibility in my schedule. I think it would be harder to be on the e-board in any other organization, but because RSA works so closely with ResLife it will work out well,” Campos said. “I never really thought it was going to be an issue and I still don’t think it will be.”
Councilors also voted to reelect Elliot Inz last Wednesday as vice president for finance. Inz ran unopposed in the race.
RSA e-board elections will continue tonight in West Village G room 108. Campos, who had submitted intent to run forms for both vice president for administration and vice president for programming, will face two opponents at tonight’s election. Members will also be electing next year’s national communications coordinator.
