Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) held elections for five cabinet positions at its April 6 meeting. Elections for the remaining six positions will be held at the April 13 meeting.
Before holding elections, ASG passed a sense of Senate resolution condemning the recent violence in India and Myanmar and expressing support for students who may have been affected by these events.
The resolution, authored by On-Campus Senator Nav Chima and Academic Senator Nikhil Patel, states ASG will work with Miami’s administration to ensure the well-being of students affected by political turmoil by providing adequate support and resources.
Several senators spoke in support of the resolution. At-Large Senator Teryn Scott said she hopes it will inspire future dialogue about international conflict at Miami.
“I hope that if this resolution is passed, it will set a precedent for the kinds of things we talk about here on campus,” Scott said.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Later in the meeting, elections for the positions of speaker of senate, secretary for on-campus affairs, secretary for communications and media relations, secretary for off-campus affairs and secretary for academic affairs.
Speaker Pro Tempore Victoria Villanueva ran unopposed for the position of speaker of senate. She said she would introduce referendums to get the student body involved in ASG’s larger initiatives, such as the credit/no credit deadline extension, and modify the workloads of senate and cabinet positions so members can get involved in more organizations. ASG elected her to the position.
Off-Campus Senator Becca Pallant and incumbent Secretary of On-Campus Affairs Trey Petrella both ran for secretary for on-campus affairs.
Pallant highlighted her experience as president of the National Residence Hall Honorary and said she would advocate for increased dining equality if elected – an issue she feels strongly about as she has Celiac disease and is Jewish.
Petrella said he would work to increase declining dollar flexibility, make campus tours more accessible and install more gender neutral bathrooms on campus if re-elected.
ASG elected Pallant to the position.
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Off-Campus Senator Omar Elghazawi, junior Jenna Walter and first-year Ethan Chiapelli ran for secretary for communications and media relations.
Elghazawi felt qualified for the position because he has served on ASG’s communications committee and has been communications chair for various organizations. He said he would make ASG’s website more accessible and increase outreach to groups that are traditionally underrepresented in ASG, such as students with marginalized identities and students in the colleges of creative arts and engineering and computing.
Walter is a digital artist and the current director of marketing for the a capella group Just Duet. She said she would create a social media growth strategy and provide accessible information about legislation ASG passes on social media if elected.
Chiapelli is the social media chair for Miami’s spikeball club. He said he would work to make senators more accessible to their constituents and increase collaboration between ASG and Greek Life if elected.
ASG elected Walter to the position.
Off-Campus Senators Gus Lake and Connor Manley ran for the position of secretary for off-campus affairs.
Lake, who has lived in Oxford for most of his life, currently serves on ASG’s off-campus committee. He said he would advocate for renters’ rights and increase commuter student representation at Miami – including adding a commuter to the off-campus committee – if elected.
Manley also serves on the off-campus committee. He said he would work on making the off-campus housing search process more understandable for students – especially international students – and improve walking conditions Uptown to prevent sexual assault if elected.
ASG elected Manley to the position.
Incumbent Secretary for Academic Affairs Ruku Pal ran unopposed for re-election to her position.
Pal said she would work on promoting shared governance and increasing equity in Miami’s academics. ASG voted to re-elect her.
ASG’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13.
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