Mississippi State University has recently elected 50 new senators for the 2002-2003 Student Senate. “This was the cleanest senate election we’ve ever had,” SA President Parker Wiseman said. “It’s hard to estimate how many ballots we need to print out since the turnout is so unpredictable. This year we estimated very accurately, and it made the election process that much smoother.”
The 2002-2003 Senate is composed of one senator per residence hall, Fraternity and Sorority Row, two senators per college/school and 15 day student senators.Also, one additional senator is elected to represent Aiken Village, Arbour Acres and University Drive.
The residence hall senators include: Critz Hall, Jeannie Waller; Rice Hall, Christy Vinson; Suttle Hall, Juan McCullum; Smith Hall, Eddie Martin Jr.; Sessums Hall, Annelise Nutt; Hightower Hall, Will Martin; Hull Hall, Lauren Butter; McKee Hall, Jordan Reinschmiedt; Cresswell Hall, Jonathan Krebs and Duggar Hall, Ed Sanders.
“I was involved in student government leadership positions in high school, and I would like to continue on in that here at MSU,” Hightower Hall senator Will Martin said. “I am very optimistic and will do whatever I can for Hightower and the Senate.”
Representing Fraternity Row is Ryan Saffle and Sorority Row Lauren Perkins.
The senators elected from each college are as follows: School of Accountancy, Lauren Crosby and Michelle Moake; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Emily Brooks and Lauren Carpenter; School of Architecture, Laura Hushi and Mitchell Marshall; College of Arts and Sciences, Lauren Cooper and Lacie Wilkerson; College of Business and Industry, Leigh Everett and Matthew Keith; College of Education, Lauren Armstrong and Laura Leigh Smith and College of Engineering, Beth Hester and Nathan Lott.
“I ran because I thought it would be interesting to help and learn how the Senate works,” Lauren Carpenter, senator of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said. “I am looking forward to the year and think there are a lot of great people on this year’s Senate.”
The 15 day students elected are: P.K. Thomas, Ward Williams, Sara Beth Tullos, Graham Calvert, Brent Tyler, Will Herrin, Daniel Ross, Taber Mullin, Carrie Smith, Gracie Thompson, Kim Mackey, Fair Josey, Ronnie Wade Robertson, Seth Still and Hunter Berry.
La’Tesha Roby was elected as the Aiken Village, Arbour Acres and University Drive senator.
“We had a higher than average voter turnout this year with about 1,700 students voting,” SA Vice President Sara Peters said.
Peters also said that this year the SA increased the application fee and made other changes to narrow the amount of candidates to those who were really serious about runnig for the position.
“Overall, the quality of the election was much better than in past years,” Peters said.
However, eight senator positions have not yet been filled. Some of these positions include one from the graduate school, Evans Hall, Hamlin Hall, College of Forestry and two from the Vet School. Peters will appoint students to fill these positions as students show interest.
This year’s senate elections commissioner was Nyerere Tryman. Three vice election commissioners were Rebekah Williams, Ernie Merlos and Seth Christian.
Senate meetings are held every first and third Tuesday night of the month at 7 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. The meetings will also be broadcast on the University Television Channel. All Mississippi State students and the Starkville community are welcome to attend.