Pettine, Truong and new senators win 2018-2019 student body election
By Tisha Herrera, Staff Writer
President-elect Bekah Pettine and Vice President-elect Erik Truong are officially declared the winners of Mason’s 2018-2019 student government election. With more than 2000 registered student and faculty votes counted, Pettine and Truong won 756 of total ballots. Pettine and Truong commented to Fourth Estate on their win and future plans in Student Government.
“We’re both passionate about Student Government, and we came in to the election with a clear plan of what we wanted,” said Pettine. “We kind of came in with an outlook of changing the way the organization operates and also the way we reach out to students, and students’ needs. We’re looking forward to applying that multifaceted view in our platform and in our upcoming administration during our year.
“We’re really excited for the opportunity,” agreed Truong. “I think we’re going to start right now learning about the transition.”
Other 2018-2019 student body election winners are new and returning Senators Jeremy Aylward, McKenna Bates, Corey Berkey, Matt Borja, Dustin Cone, Kelsey Courville, Madison Essig, Joseph Fernando, Davide Genoese-Zerbi, Shannon Glesing, Abdifatah Ibrahim, Maximilian Kim, Clement Lupton IV, Amir Mahmoud, Charles Miller, Clair Olivier, Cedric Price, Sagar Sharma, Jasper Swan and Annika Tobe. The new student government will be sworn in to office on Thursday, April 26, to assume their positions for the next academic year.
Mason’s outgoing Student Government met for the tenth time this semester on April 5, in Merten Hall. The Student Senate discussed Town Hall, Core Campus Project, Night Walk 2018 and a new appointment.
Outgoing student body President David Kanos reminded the senators about two upcoming Town Halls for the Core Campus Project on April 9, at 5:30 p.m. in the JC’s Dewberry Hall so that students would be more aware of campus changes, especially the replacement of Robinson Hall.
Mason’s Associate Director for Student Involvement Sara Heming said the Board of Visitors (BOV) will post their agenda on April 20. The next meeting on May 3 will introduce Pettine and Truong to the BOV.
Chair of University Services Elizabeth Marge introduced Resolution #24 to urge the university’s administration “to institute mandatory training through the partnership of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for all faculty and staff members regarding protocol for active shooter emergencies.” The resolution was successfully adopted by the senate.
Government and Community Relations Chairman Davide Genoese-Zerbi also introduced Resolution #25 “to oppose the planned development along Roberts Road,” on behalf of students who have been struck walking to the Jewish Student Center and services at St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel. The resolution was then referred to the Government and Community Relations Committee, where it will be reconsidered on Monday, April 9.
Senator Baig Dhuha was recently appointed as a new member of the Student Senate. Within the Executive Cabinet, Dolica Gopisetty, former executive undersecretary for information technology, as well as Jennifer Muchnikoff, former executive undersecretary for civic engagement, recently left their positions.
Photo by Allie Thompson
