By Lori Bredemeyer, Copy Editor
Students voted in SA class senator elections April 6 in which six freshmen, five sophomores and one junior ran for five openings for each class, said Haley Sutherland, member of the elections committee and freshman missions major from Fort Worth.
The only contested race was for sophomore class senator, and although the elections went smoothly, Sutherland said she thinks the low voter turnout was because of lack of advertising.
“Last semester went well because we had a lot more turnout then,” she said. “We maybe had a problem with advertising and announcements, but I’m happy with the elections.”
She said she has confidence in those who were selected.
“I think everyone who was chosen is really enthusiastic about serving,” Sutherland said. “They want to represent their peers and really get involved on campus.”
The newly elected executive officers also appointed Sarah Woodroof, sophomore psychology major from Brentwood, Tenn., as executive secretary.
Next semester’s sophomore class senators are: Jacob Anderson, youth and family ministry major from Alvin; Casey Bingham, political science major from Conroe; Daniel Gray, social work major from Collierville, Tenn.; Rebecca Jones, journalism major from Burleson; and Jake Roseberry, management major from Troy, Ohio. Jonathan Holloway, biology major from Abilene also ran but was not elected.
Junior class senators are: Sarah Carlson, journalism major from San Antonio; Andrew Greenberg, political science major from Grand Prairie; Brad Powers, undecided major from Clovis, Calif.; Justin Scott, political science major from Whitehouse; and Sametria Turner, psychology and criminal justice major from Dallas.
Senior class senator is Michelle Morris, marketing major from Bedford. Layne Rouse, next year’s executive president, said he will appoint students for the vacant positions for senior class senator next fall when the new Congress meets.
“I don’t have any formal plans at this point,” he said. “It comes down to asking and just word of mouth. That’s what we’ll have to do for the fall, just round up four more people who want to do it.”
Roseberry, Carlson and Scott are the only returning senators, and Rouse said while they will bring experience to Congress, he is confident in the new senators and their ability to serve the student body.
“I’m excited about the new interest,” he said. “There’s plusses and minuses with the turnover in SA. The minus is that the new people are inexperienced, but the plus is that they have new energy, and that keeps the vitality of SA alive.”
The senators said they are excited about next year, and some had considered running for SA for a while. Rebecca Jones said she waited until college to get involved in government.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of the student government,” she said, “but it’s always been a popularity contest. I thought it would be different in college, so I decided to run. I just want to be a good, Christian leader.”
Andrew Greenberg also said he wanted to get more involved and have an effect on campus and the students.
Sametria Turner said she wanted to do something different next year and had prayed for guidance.
“I felt called; it wasn’t a plan,” she said. “I was praying about finding a direction for my life, and I thought that’s what God led me to do.”
