Photo Courtesy of Bárbara Muziotti

Cuesta-McAulay platform aims to improve student representation, student life and promote DEI

BY ERICA MUNISAR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On April 24, Student Body President Maria Cuesta and Student Body Vice President Colin McAulay were sworn into office by the 45th Student Senate.

During the session, Sen. Bas Rawat read the Presidential oath to Cuesta and McAulay:

“I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the Office of Student Body President of George Mason University, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United states, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Student Body Constitution of George Mason University,” Cuesta and McAulay said.

Following the beginning of the Cuesta-McAulay administration, the 45th Student Senate then swore-in to begin the session. An election was immediately held by the Senate to elect a new Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore and Clerk.

Sen. Scott Tatum was re-elected as Speaker, Sen. Ilia Sheikholeslami was elected as Speaker Pro-Tempore and Sen. Austin Emery was re-elected as Clerk.

Under the new Cuesta-McAulay administration, which won the Spring 2024 election by 41.9 percent, or 750 votes, the Cuesta-McAulay platform focuses on the three pillars of Student Representation, Student Life and “Promoting and Protecting DEI.”

The platform includes 69 initiatives such as Fridays at Mason, creating a Disability Resources Center as partners with UBU, helping to gather data on student food insecurity and more.

While the administration will majorly take place in fall of 2024, the Cuesta-McAulay platform has already made a statement to support a recently passed Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions resolution, as well as called on students to support DEI by attending a University-hosted listening session and upcoming Board of Visitors meeting.