Alex Wilkins Voted Next Student Senate President

By Jason Endres

After three days of voting, current Senate Clubs Liaison, Alex Wilkins defeated Junior Senator, Andrew Douglas to become the next President of Student Senate. Junior Senator, Lauren Merclean became the new Vice President after winning a three person race. Sophomore Senator, Fred Reimer is the new Treasurer, while freshman Senator, Alexandra Bigler is the next secretary. Both Reimer and Bigler were unopposed.

There were 304 votes (approximately 12 percent of students) cast during the election period, which was from Monday, March 14 th to Wednesday, March 16 th from 11:30-1:00 PM each day. After the votes were cast, current Senate Vice President, Whittney Gallo, in charge of the elections, Secretary, Aliza Ameer, and Associate Dean of College, Life Tom Mottola counted the ballots. The ballots were kept locked in a box. Vice President Gallo is the only person who knows the combination to that lock.

Vice President Gallo was unable to release the numerical results of the election. She did comment that both the Senate Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections, were “clear cut.” A recount of the results was unnecessary. Gallo said that, “Tom Mottola keeps the ballots in his office for a year after the elections.” She explained that he keeps the ballots in an envelope in his office in case somebody questions the results of the election.

Students who are studying abroad were eligible to vote. They would have to email their ballot to the vice president, but by doing this their vote would no longer be anonymous.

Class Senator Elections will be held March 29-31 in the CUB Lobby. In each class, seven senators will elected. Freshman senators will be elected in September.

The newly elected officers will be “sworn in” later in the month of April. Dean of Students Julie Ramsey will preside over the ceremonies.