DeKALB – The Student Government Association elected new members of the senate Friday in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center.

SENATORIAL ELECTIONS

The senate elected three new members for the positions of director of diversity, equity and inclusion, director of campus life and environmental affairs, and representative of the College of Education.

Leilani Rodriguez was elected to serve as director of diversity, equity and inclusion in a 10-0 vote with one abstention.

Rodriguez explained her goals for the position.

“I want to make sure SGA is a space where all students, regardless of their background, identity or lived experiences feel welcome, supported, and most of all, heard,” she said.

Shawn Ninan was elected to serve as the director of campus life and environmental affairs in a 7-3 vote with one abstention.

Ninan plans to better inform people about opportunities to positively impact the environment at NIU through social media, like the Founders Seed Library, which hands out seeds for students to plant around campus.

“There’s a qr code right beside the seed dispensary and they will tell you how to grow the plant but not a lot of people know that,” he said.

Erin Uhrine was unanimously elected as a senator to represent the College of Education at NIU in a 11-0 vote.

Uhrine said she was motivated to take the role to advocate for more resources for College of Education students.

“I noticed that there isn’t a huge female initiative on the senate and I wanted to be a part of that and also more resources for College of Ed (Education) students around testing because we have to do a test to become licensed teachers and there’s only a certain amount of money that NIU can provide for resources for our content tests,” she said. “And also, I want more advocacy for clinicals.”

BILL CODIFYING PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES PASSES

The senate voted to codify a bill which allows any member of the public to provide public comment during SGA meetings.

The bill, initially proposed last Friday, codifies existing legislation around public comments. Members of the public have to submit an “Intent to Speak” form or submit a written form to the Speaker of the Senate by midnight the day before the meeting begins.

The bill passed unanimously in an 11-0 vote.

BILL CODIFYING ORGANIZATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE PROCEDURE PASSES

The senate passed a bill proposed last Friday codifying the process for the Organization Oversight Committee to mediate disputes between student organizations.

The bill passed unanimously in an 11-0 vote.

The next SGA meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 in the Sky Room of Holmes Student Center.