WINONA, Minn., April 24, 2001 -- Winona State University students elected junior Jason Fossum as president of the student body. Fossum received 148 votes to defeat fellow junior Araysa Ashmore, who received 109. The turnout ratio, 287 students from 7,000 eligible students, was among the lowest in history. "We usually have about 350 to 400 students casting their ballots in previous elections," said Nick Dircz, the Senate's public relations chair. Dircz said he doesn't understand why more students don't turn out. Outgoing President Devin Johnson, who chose against seeking re-election, received one write in vote. In the vice presidential race, junior Erika Nelsen defeated Matt Muncheow 153-97. Former President Mike Swenson and the green cartoon character Gumby received one write-in vote.

WINONA, Minn., April 24, 2001 -- When Winona Radio almost tripled the rent to Winona State University station KQAL for transmitter space on its bluffs-top KWNO tower, the hike was overdue, said the university official who negotiated the new tower rental contract. Jerry Varner, recently retired as university business manager, said the increase, from $1,800 to $4,800 a year, might seem a lot but was almost 20 years old, Varner said: "If they had charged us 30 bucks more every year for the past 20 years we probably would have been paying the same amount." Jerry Papenfuss, owner of Winona Radio, said at $4,800 KQ is getting by cheaply. Papenfuss said that he rents a similar tower along Interstate 90 between Rushford and Wilson for $6,600 a year. He also said that the rental fees at his towers at Blue Earth, Windom and Fergus Falls are in the same ballpark. Said Papenfuss: "Rent had not been increased since the original agreement, and I just brought the fee up to current standards." Ajit Daniel, KQ general manager, who was not party to the negotiations, declined to comment.

WINONA, Minn., April 24, 2001 -- The sixth edition of the world's most-adopted mass communication textbook was completed by prof John Vivian at Winona State University. The book, "The Media of Mass Communication," will be available for fall from publisher Allyn & Bacon, Vivian said. The book has been adopted by more than 500 U.S. colleges. A Canadian edition with co-author Peter Maurin is the most used media textbook in Canada. "Counting two Canadian editions and an unnumbered online update, the book's actually in its ninth update in 10 years," Vivian said. An elaborate web site that accompanies the book has two web-only chapters, one on photography and the other on global media and political systems. The book itself has 20 chapters.