05/09/08

The students have spoken – some of them anyway. Last week, eight students filled class officer positions for next year’s student senate.

The incoming sophomore class elected its president, vice president, secretary/treasurer, and both class representatives. The incoming juniors picked their president and vice president, while the incoming seniors chose their president.

Freshman Will Duncan beat freshman Reina Murphy for the position of sophomore class president. He said he decided to run after a successful year as freshman class president.

Senior Kim Kilmartin, outgoing student senate president, said the responsibilities of the class officers include organizing two service events and two class activities each year.

Duncan said the freshman class raised about $300 this year for Habitat for Humanity by selling popcorn in Harter Union and donating its leftover budget. It also held a few social events to allow freshmen to get to know each other better.

Next year, Duncan would like to raise health awareness during flu season by possibly handing out Zicam and providing hand sanitizer in computer labs and piano practice rooms, two places where germs get passed frequently.

Duncan said he didn’t do much campaigning because he wanted his accomplishments this year to stand alone. He knew that there were students who recognized his hard work who would support him.

“I didn’t want it to turn into a popularity contest,” Duncan said.

Junior Gillian Joy, incoming executive vice president, said she is optimistic about the new officers and that newcomers will add a fresh outlook.

“I think they’ll do a fine job and a lot of them have experience, which will make student senate better as a whole,” Joy said.

Kilmartin said there was a shortage of people running for positions as well as a poor voter turnout. Student senate hoped offering coupons for free food would increase participation, but Kilmartin was still disappointed in the turnout.

“We made it very accessible for people, and they still didn’t vote,” Kilmartin said.

Senior Rebecca Fraley, outgoing executive public relations officer, said the to-be seniors had fewer than 40 voters and only one person running for office. Other classes had respectively higher turnouts.

Kilmartin said it would be the responsibility of the new junior and senior class presidents to appoint classmates to the remaining offices. She said all classes must have every position filled in order to receive money to hold class activities.

Fraley said low voter turnout is an ongoing problem, as last year’s elections were postponed until the fall of the current school year.

“If people don’t want to come out and vote, they’re not going to,” Fraley said.

Duncan said he was disappointed in the turnout, but understands that people don’t think it’s a big deal. He said a lot of what student senate does is quiet.

“It just doesn’t seem like what we do is known,” Duncan said.

Fraley said while these numbers were disappointing, it was the most student senate has seen in the last few years. One of senate’s goals this year was to increase campus awareness of the organization.

“I’m pretty proud of what we got accomplished, and I just hope that next year’s group can continue that,” Fraley said.

Joy said this year has produced the best voter turnout since she started at Baker. She said incoming junior class president Shontelle Dixon did a good job at increasing participation by asking local businesses for coupons, finding computers for people to vote on in the union and having someone supervise these booths.

“I know she worked really hard,” Joy said.