By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Editor in Chief

The votes are in and several students earned spots in the Students’ Association Congress for the 2008-09 school year.

Only five of the 13 races for elected positions in the SA Congress were contested, and several of the students who lost various races may be appointed to different offices in the future.

More than 400 students cast a ballot in the election.

All of the students who won offices are required to attend a Students’ Association Retreat where they will learn about parliamentary procedures and SA’s function on campus, said Vice President Sarah Pulis.

“We have a lot of new members in Congress this year,” Pulis said. “The senior class last year was very active, and they all graduated, so a majority of our Congress
are underclassmen.”

Zach Linge, Jacob Groves, Carson Henley, Hailey Clinton and Kelly Lytle defeated Amie Cavitt and Colin Barnard to win seats as Freshman Senators.

Jake Hutto and Connor Best defeated Jacob Raitz and Jay Morales for the MabeeHall Representative seat. Keri Gray defeated Ashley Alton for the McDonald Hall Representative seat, and Jared Elk defeated Kyle Smith for the Edwards Hall Representative seat. Amanda Paramore defeated Breanna Anderson for the Sikes Hall Representative seat.

Hutto was elected as one of the two Mabee Hall Representatives in the race and said he decided to run because he liked to be involved.

“There were four of us running, and we all knew each other and we all knew any of us could make it,” Hutto said, adding he was eager to get started.

In the uncontested races, Rachel Morris, Karissa Wolf, Danielle Urias and Scott Adrian were all elected as Sophomore Senators; David Vanderpool and Daniel Burgner were elected as Junior Senators and Matt Gauntt and Kyle Pickens were elected as Senior Senators.

C.C. Crowley and Julianne Hart were elected as Gardner Hall Representatives, and Ryan Gertner was elected as Chambers Hall Representative.

Aaron Escobedo was elected as Education Building Representative; Nathan PIckle and Colter Lane were elected as Foster Science Building Representatives and Jordan Hancock was elected as the Hardin Administration Building Representative.

Although not everyone won, SA President Daniel Paul Watkins said some, if not all, of the students who ran for an office would be appointed to a seat so they could still serve on the SA Congress.

Representatives and Senators are required to attend weekly Students’ Association meetings and work in the Students’ Association office at least 30 minutes a week.

Last year the SA Congress had trouble with attendance at meetings, but Watkins said if that happens again this year, the pressure should be on the Executive Cabinet to make meetings worth attending.

“To me it’s not about how Congress members are apathetic,” Watkins said. “It’s about us being more dynamic and more engaging so that it attracts congresspersons to attend the meetings.”