The
Associated Student Body opened the spring semester with new senators, bills and plans to better the student community on Tuesday, Jan. 30 in Weems Auditorium.
Six new senators were elected to replace those studying abroad, resigning and graduating. Each of the 14 candidates gave a speech explaining why they were deserving of a position and enumerating their top priorities for the semester.
Junior Omobola Obasanjo, a business banking and finance and managerial finance major, is one of the newly elected senators. He aims to use his position to strengthen the connection between students and those in administration.
“Although the number of students is important and great, we do want them to still see us as individuals and the quality of our lives on campus and in Oxford being prioritized as students with our own unique problems and unique experiences and not just as numbers,” Obasanjo said.
Sophomore Madeline Bailey, a management and marketing major, is also a newly elected senator. She plans to advocate for student workers.
“I’m really excited to try and help students with appropriate wages and the ability to have reasonable hours that they can work to support themselves,” Bailey said.
Senators also reminded everyone about the upcoming Meet Your Senator Night on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. on the second floor living room of the student union. The meeting is an open invitation for constituents to interact and form relationships with their senators.
Minahil Iqbal, a junior computer science major, hopes the event will encourage students to engage more with ASB.
“I am excited to be bringing attention to the issues that are not mostly talked about like not having a lot of food options on campus or transportation for students who don’t have their own personal vehicles,” Iqbal said. “ASB is looking for a diverse group of individuals who will have unique perspectives, and I think through Meet Your Senator Night it will be highlighted more to the campus community.”
Senior Mason Greenwald, a political science and economics major and ASB vice president, wants to use the event to create more comradery between students and senators.
“It’s a little bit intimidating to walk up in the senate chambers with all those student government suits and stuff. I fully admit that, so we want to be frontward facing and we want to be out in the open,” Greenwald said.
A singular resolution was brought to the senate floor. It proposed to congratulate the Ole Miss Football team on its 11-win season, the first one in program history. The resolution passed with a unanimous vote.
Sophomore William Pentecost, a public policy and rhetoric major, believes this resolution properly showcases ASB’s support for athletics .
“We felt it would be very appropriate to commemorate an overall successful season,” Pentecost said. “We want to be represented in everything, including athletics, so I think it’s very appropriate.”
Greenwald also believes the resolution promotes school spirit.
“We echo the beliefs of students and sometimes the student voice just wants to show appreciation for something,” Greenwald said. “I think every student should be a Rebel football fan, and we were just echoing the appreciation of the student body for Coach Kiffin and the team giving us a super memorable season. It’s important to acknowledge that the students know.”
