Christopher Norman

Campus Reporter

The choice for Student Association Senate Speaker was clear according to senators at Sunday night’s meeting.

Robert Batey, a senator from District 3, and Kiarri Andrews, a senator from District 5, were nominated at the senate’s April 9 meeting. Since then, Andrews dropped out of the race.

Lee Blank, a senator from District 3, was nominated at the last minute.

Both candidates were given five minutes to make their arguments. Afterwards, the senate was given unlimited time to ask them questions and then debate the candidates.

Batey was first to speak. He said the choice for speaker decides what direction the senate will take for the next year.

The first question he wanted to answer was how he was qualified for the position. He has been a senator for the last semester and a half, creator and chair of the new public affairs committee and he served on the finance and rules committees.

Batey said next year he would make sure committees meet, make sure the rules of the SA constitution are upheld, and promote co-programming between organizations to make programs cheaper. He also plans to institute weekly committee chair meetings to check the progress of the various SA committees.

“I’m a different choice,” Blank said at the start of his speech.

He said his main goal for next year would be to get senators to be more active both in and out of senate.

“I think it would be pretty cool to have my own office.” Blank added.

After their speeches the candidates were escorted from the room and the senate debated their options.

“Without appearing cruel,” Andrews said, “it seems as if there’s two candidates, but only one seems to be remotely prepared.”

The discussion was split between Blank’s lack of preparation and Batey’s accomplishments while he has been a senator.

“Both have their hearts in the right place,” said Albert Nelson, a senator from District 1.

Nelson said Blank did not come to the meeting expecting to run for speaker and that he accepted the nomination for the sake of choice.

The senators voted by roll call and Batey won. Blank received two votes, three senators abstained.

Speaker-elect Batey said he was having a victory party at Baskin Robins, 818 Lincoln Highway, after the meeting.

The fraternities Alpha Phi Alpha, Tau Phi Sigma and the Minority Science Association were recognized as new organizations. Next year’s budget was also passed.