The Student Government Association filled 16 of its 22 open senate seats this week.

Students who were not elected to positions on Tuesday, Sept. 9, will be able to attend meetings as student representatives. 

“When listening to candidates, I listen for their passion and wanting to help people,” SGA President Jenna Davis told the Chronicle. “A title of a senator is great and all, but we want to make actual positive change at Columbia, and that only happens through passion.”

Davis, a senior fine arts major now in her second year leading the organization, said the SGA moved to annual elections to make leadership accessible to more students.

“When listening to candidates, I listen for their passion and wanting to help people,” Davis said. “The title of a senator is great and all, but we want to make actual positive change at Columbia, and that only happens through passion.”

Just before the election began, the room was already filled with students talking with friends and peers, some practicing their campaign speeches.

Senior cultural studies major Carley Brown, who was running for 4th/5th student senate, said they were feeling pretty nervous despite being class senator for the last two years.

“Getting ready for graduation is important for the 4th/5th year students,” they said. “I want seniors to be ready for graduation, while also enjoying Columbia to the fullest extent.”

Brown later won their seat.

Elections are held every semester except for the E-Board members who wish to continue to be in their role.

• Senior fine arts major Jenna Davis is executive president.
• Junior film and television major Amelia Lutz is executive vice president.
• Sophomore musical theatre major Danielle Lang is vice president of communications. 
• Senior graphic design major Trinity Sutton is the student representative to the Board of Trustees.
• Junior fine art and art management major Michael Kowalkowski is vice president of finance.

Every candidate was given two minutes to introduce themselves. If running unopposed, the room conducted a “yes” or “no” vote and the candidate needed a “yes” majority. 

“The goal is to really just help make student life on campus the best it can be,” said Kowalkowski. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes on day to day that it’s always nice when it can be a little smoother and easier, and that’s what we try to do.”

Junior music major Charlotte Johnson, who is part of the Student Programming Board, attended to show support and to get more involved. Johnson didn’t get involved with campus organizations till the end of her first year.

“Don’t be afraid of joining anything late,” she said. “If you’re in the middle of the semester and you’re like, ‘oh, I don’t know if they’re welcoming new students’, just like rejection therapy.”

Five students were elected to academic senate seats during the first round of elections.

• Junior film and television major Morgan Lawson was elected as the Film and Television senator.
• Sophomore creative writing major Krislyn Hughes was elected as the Communications & Culture senator.
• Junior fashion studies major Antonio Arce was elected as the Fashion senator.
• Sophomore double major in music theatre and marketing Dominick Rodriguez was elected as the Theater & Dance senator.
• Senior fine arts major Ana Lara was elected as the Visual Arts senator.

Eleven students were elected to community senate seats.

• First-year Rosa Weinand was elected as the 1st Year Students senator.
• Sophomore Ari Orth was elected as the 2nd Year Students senator.
• Junior film post-production major Felix Peterson was elected as the 3rd Year Students senator.
• Senior interdisciplinary major Carley Brown was elected as the 4th/5th Year Students senator.
• Senior Rhoss Johnson was elected as the Transfer Students senator.
• Sophomore photography major Raquel Williams was elected as the Commuter Students senator.
• Robert Dunbar was elected as the Disability Student Advocate senator.
• Sophomore musical major Jack Hewitt was elected as the Honors Students senator.
• Michael Spahn got elected as the Mental Health Advocate senator.
• Fine arts major Jonathon Stinson got elected as the Student Worker Advocate senator.

The remaining six senate positions are still open to anyone who wants to run. Meetings will be held at the same location on the second floor of the Student Center at 5 p.m. every Tuesday.

Copy edited by Matt Brady