The Associated Student Government swore in Jeff Vela as their vice president for the 2018-2019 academic year during their May 2 meeting. Vela will also serve as the acting president until President-Elect Beau Flores is sworn in after his term as student trustee ends in June.
The oath of office took place at the end of the meeting with this year’s senators. After they adjourned their final meeting of the year, Vela led the new student body in their first meeting.
Chief Justice Pua Utu swore in all new senators at the beginning of the meeting.
Afterward, Vela explained some of the goals that he and Flores have for the group in the upcoming year: improving transparency, improving club and organization collaboration, utilizing department heads and improving the overall ASG presence on campus.
“I want students to come to us [ASG] instead of going through all of that hierarchy,” Flores said in regard to the last goal.
Senators also elected Colton Rupple as their senate leader for the upcoming year during the meeting.
Senator Jay Shearrow advocated strongly in favor of Rupple, although he personally knew all three senators running for the position. Shearrow argued that Rupple’s vision for the senate line up well with the executives’ vision, and that he is one of the most knowledgeable senators, despite having only one year of experience.
“I put my faith in senator Rupple,” Shearrow said. Many of the other senators, returning and new, concurred with Shearrow during the ensuing discussion.
Rupple along with Brittany Dixon and Erica Pacheco — all returning members— were candidates for the position. Shelby Cerise was formerly a candidate, but resigned from her position as senator as well as the race for senate leader.
The new executive branch also appointed former senator John Nachtsheim to the position of chief of staff, Riley Brodie to the position of Fee Allocation Committee chair and Makayla Wilcox to the position of director of external affairs.
In other action:
ASG allocated $3000 from the Regional and National Championship Fund to send nine students from FBLA to their national leadership conference. After minimal discussion, the bill passed unanimously with one abstention.
