The University Student Apartment residents have cast their votes.

Sarit Sharma, a graduate student in electrical engineering, was chosen as the 1997-98 University Student Apartment Council mayor and Patrick Kirk, a graduate student in general graduate studies, won the seat for chairman.

A total of 53 people voted in Monday’s election, which is a low figure compared to the approximately 1,000 students living in the university’s student apartments north of campus.

“It’s pretty sad,” Sharma said. “We need to make people more aware of the council.”

Next year’s officials hope to increase student involvement with the council.

“Our No. 1 goal [this year] is to increase the involvement of residents and their awareness of the apartment council,” Kirk said.

“There have been a number of improvements in the apartments and a number of activities for families and children, and I’m not sure if they are being taken advantage of,” he added.

Sharma said he hopes if more students become involved with the council, more social events will be coordinated.

“We are trying to create an e-mail list of the residents [as an alternative way] to send newsletters,” Sharma said.

Mary Tandia, residential life coordinator, said she also encourages more residents to participate in the council’s activities.

Voters could cast their votes at locations near University Village and Pammel Court.

Students voted for a mayor/chairman ticket and for a representative of their respective area of residence — University Village, Schilletter Village, Hawthorn Court or Pammel Court.

Kirk said this year a brochure was sent to all of the apartments to notify students of the election and nomination process. To be included on the ballot, students needed to complete a form that came with the brochure.

Brian Sleugh and Denise Kellan will represent Hawthorn Court; Jenna Lauer and Rekha Cejwal will represent University Village; Jennifer Russo will represent Schilletter Village and the second Schilletter seat, along with both positions for the Pammel Court representative seats, are vacant.

In addition to the seven positions that were filled, the council also needs to appoint an information director and a treasurer.

Anyone interested in filling these positions can apply by contacting a council members.