New officers plan for future

After the all votes were counted, the posters torn down and the chalk washed from the sidewalks the results for the Student Senate election are in.

Voting took place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 and 10 in the Campus Activities Board office of Billingsly Student Center. Missouri Southern students voted for Student Senate president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

“It’s the greatest thing in the whole world,” said president-elect Hector Amaya, junior political science and Spanish major. He is excited about his new role in Senate.

“There will be more awareness of Senate next year for sure,” Amaya said. “The student body, of course, will feel that Student Senate will fight for student rights and stand up for them.”

Accepting the write-in vote for vice president is David Reed, junior political science major.

“I am going to take the vice presidency, because people wanted me in or they wouldn’t have voted for me,” said Reed.

He looks forward to see what it is like to be vice president of Student Senate.

“We have an eclectic group representing Student Senate,” said Reed. “Our president is in CAB, and we also have Greek people in the Student Senate. I think we can make very positive changes.”

Mariya Gavrilova, junior business major, didn’t expect to win the office of treasurer.

“Honestly, I was not sure what was going to happen because I didn’t know how much support the other candidates would get,” said Gavrilova.

She believes she is qualified for the treasurer’s post, as she has been on the finance committee for a year and has a clear understanding of the procedures.

“I also have a strong business background that further enhanced my suitability for the position,” said Gavrilova.

She hopes that more people will participate in allocation discussions and that Senate will use some of the leftover money to sponsor different projects improving campus life.

Involved with Senate since she came to Southern last fall, Ivy Love, freshman Russian, Spanish, and French major, shared her expectations for the fall.

“I would really like to see more participation and more enthusiasm.” Love said. “I would like to see them excited to come to Senate and excited to bring in more ideas.”

Love says she feels honored by the election results and plans to make herself available for student concerns.

“I want them to know that they can come to me if they have any ideas or questions,” Love said.

Elections for Student Senators will be held during the fall semester.