Baker University’s student senate executive board will have a few new faces but the same head next year after executive elections were held March 27 and 28.
President Ryan Boyer was re-elected in the only contested race, defeating junior Jon Xenos with a vote count of 145-124.
Sophomore Ashley Locklin, the only other returning member of the executive board, will move up from secretary to vice president for the 2006-2007 school year.
Locklin, who received 241 votes, said she is glad to have two returning executive officers to help guide the senate’s procedures and planning.
“I think it’s going to be a strong board,” she said. “With two executive officers returning to be the top two people, we already know a lot of people, and we’ll be able to do a lot more with the connections we’ve made this year.”
Sophomores Michelle Burton and Jacinta Deruso will provide new perspectives in their first year on the executive board. Burton won an uncontested race for treasurer with 220 votes while Deruso, also uncontested, was elected to the public relations position with 230 votes.
“I’m really excited about being an executive officer for student senate. We’re going to have an excellent year next year,” Burton said. “We all know how to work together. Unity is really what’s important. It doesn’t matter if you have goals and everything if you don’t know how to work together.”
All four executive officer-elects have taken part in cooperative efforts, Burton said.
However, the position of secretary remains unfilled due to a lack of candidates. Boyer said the executive committee has been in the process of accepting petitions for a special election to be held during class elections, which are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
Boyer said he did receive some hassle about his decision to run for re-election. However, he said he is hopeful he will be able to use his experience to accomplish more next year.
“I’m really excited to have another term. We have a lot of continuing projects and a lot of ideas,” Boyer said. “This last year, it was a learning experience for me. I made a lot of mistakes, but I got a lot done as well. This year, I know the mistakes I’ve made. I’ve made contacts, and there will be continuity with all that’s going on.”
Locklin said she was glad to see him win.
“I think with Ryan’s experience from last year, I’m happy he got the position,” she said. “Things could have been a little sketchy with someone who doesn’t have that experience, but I do hope that Jonny runs for secretary because he’s a strong leader as well.”
Boyer, who said he has a number of ideas in store for his second term, said he has confidence in the new board members.
“They seem to have a real dedication to senate, and they are involved in other activities on campus,” he said. “They both have really good ideas, and I think they’ll bring a lot.”
Burton said she’s already beginning to think of what she can do to advance student senate with her role as treasurer.
“I’d like to involve the student body community more,” she said. “I’d like our students to get fired up and come to our events that we sponsor – not just our events but other events on campus as well.”
In the highest voter turnout in the past few years with a total of 275 votes, Boyer said accessibility was a key factor.