Photo of Campaign Schedule
Photo courtesy: @famuelections (FAMU Electoral Commission)
The Miss FAMU race has been the talk of the campus, with students buzzing about recent developments that have left many curious and intrigued. The competition, which aims to showcase the talent, intelligence and poise of FAMU’s finest young women, took an unexpected turn when two contestants — Edwina Fleuridor and Nevoy Shepherd — were disqualified.
The sudden disqualifications of these two contestants sent shockwaves through the FAMU campus, prompting a list of questions and theories about the reasons behind the controversial decisions. Students who wanted to know what happened were going to @famuelections.
On this platform, the Electoral Commission made several posts to their Instagram account, one stating, “We urge the student body and SGA to familiarize themselves with Chapter 600 and the point system, accessible on the iStrike platform, to gain a better understanding of our operations.”
Public statement to students from the Electoral Commission Photo courtesy: @famuelections (FAMU Electoral Commission)
The rumors and speculations ran wild, with students eagerly discussing the causes of the sudden events. Some speculated about rule violations, while others whispered about behind-the-scenes action.
“The response to these allegations is truly people just wanting answers. Answers that they deserve. There has not been a public post of the verdict or decision on how elections will proceed as of 12:42 p.m. Thursday, which has left much room for assumption and misinformation,” Shepherd said. “Above all else, I have received a very supportive and encouraging dynamic from a multitude of students. DMs, calls, reminders to keep going, and a lot of prayers, so I am truly grateful to have that .”
However, just when it seemed like the competition had reached a dramatic ending, with third-year health science major Kailyn Thompson being named the 118th Miss Florida A&M University, Nevoy’s surprising comeback sparked a wave of confusion among students.
Nevoy’s comeback story quickly became the talk of the university, with many wondering why she was disqualified in the first place and if Fleuridor would also be entering the race again.
“I was unjustifiably disqualified the day before the new ballots came out with claims of an ‘Attempt to obstruct the job, operation, and/or function of the Electoral Commission’ and ‘Defaming/Sabotaging any candidate or tickets character, campaign, or campaign materials,’ resulting in me being assessed an additional 75 points. On Feb. 21, my appeal for these accusations was approved after a unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court stating that none of my actions constituted an assessment of any points of the things listed above,” Shepherd said.
“Although I am saddened at the allegations made against me, I take pride in standing firm on equality, fairness, and being the voice for the voiceless. As a student leader, it would be a disservice to myself and the other candidates if I didn’t urge the Electoral Commission to investigate this matter. I had no intention of candidates being disqualified, for I was under the impression that all candidates would have already been checked for qualifications much sooner in the campaign process,” she added.
Students are eagerly awaiting the final outcome of the Miss FAMU race.
One thing is sure — the Miss FAMU race has captured the hearts and minds of the FAMU community, from alums like 2017-2018 Queen of Orange & Green, Jakela “Hollywood” London, going live about the matter to students reporting Fizz as the go-to place for information.
Edwina Fleuridor told The Famuan, “I would love the opportunity to tell my side of the story, but I’m currently still waiting on more information, so unfortunately, I can’t at this very moment. However, I will keep you updated.”
