Joel Fenster has beaten rival candidate Harry Prance in the election for Cambridge Union President.

Fenster, the current Union Debating Officer and 3rd year SPS student at Selwyn, easily overcame Prance, achieving 439 votes to 154. Prance had been docked 20% of first preference votes due to charges of malpractice during his campaign.

Fenster ran a more orthodox campaign than his rival, proposing the introduction of a Union Access officer and a "comprehensive review of speaker invitations". He also highlighted his continued involvement in the Union's activities, claiming:

"As a member of the Financial Resources committee, in addition to Standing Committee, the Building and Development Committee, and the Debating Sub-Committee, I have shown a commitment to the Society's future."

In contrast, Prance, from Queens', ran an anti-Union campaign challenging the perceived nepotism of the Committee, and referring to the Union 'clique'. In an attack on his rival, he argued: "We cannot stand for a committee and a president who believes in inviting those of Assange's ilk and we must continue to stand up to them."

He set out his plans to introduce an elected Women's Officer, who would be granted a vote on the Standing Committee and thereby be in a position to vote against decisions to invite speakers such as Assange. Fenster claimed in his speech that he had voted in support of inviting Assange, stating that he wished to “look him in the eyes and ask “Are you a rapist?””

Prance's plans for the Union if he was elected included many somewhat unusual proposals, promising the introduction of an “all-you-can-eat petting zoo', glamour modelling classes, a "non-denominational mass led by Rowan Williams" before emergency debates, and a clause stating that: 'This House believes that Harry Prance should be permanently installed as Union President (proposition: Harry Prance, Robert Mugabe; opposition: none)'. He delivered his speech in drag. All of this prompted questions as to whether his campaign was simply a joke.

The run-up to the election was plagued by charges of malpractice. A poster depicted Prance's foot resting on Fenster's head, and was deemed to be “intimidating” and was thus modified. An unofficial poster used the slogan “Vote Prance: he's not a racist' and was held to be misleading. Thirdly, a post on Prance's Facebook campaign event claiming responsibility for the cancellation of Assange's Q&A session was deemed to be a lie. He claimed: "Thanks in part to the pressure put on the Union Campaign by Prance for Pres, we’ve shown that ‘outsiders’ can make a difference'”. He was thus docked 20% of first preference votes cast.

Fenster was also charged with malpractice due to his campaign being posted onto a debating group affiliated with the Union, however he was not docked votes as this was his first offence.

With Ben Kentish taking over the Presidency for Lent term followed by Fenster in Easter, the Union will have to endure at least another year without an all-you-can-eat petting zoo.

In the results for the other positions, Emily Gittins was elected  Executive Officer, Steve Squirrell for Treasurer, Imogen Schon for Speakers Officer, and Lucy Lassman for Social Events Officer. Every Supplementary Committee candidate was elected. However, two spaces are left vacant by the election, necessitating a by-election next term which will take place next term.