Three of the four new ASNIC senators were sworn in inside the Driftwood Bay Room in the main level of the SUB Tuesday at noon. It marks the beginning of their service in student government.
Justin Knoles, 18, general studies, Torri Meagher, 19, social work major, and Syafiq Fuller, three-year general studies with plans to major in dance, pledged to hold themselves to a higher standard as senators on the ASNIC board.
In the college’s first online election 169 eBallots were cast and 429 eVotes were placed. Chris Waltrip, Kelly Clausen and Sheyne Possman were in the running for the positions, but did not receive enough votes to place in the top four spots.
The one-year terms were not filled without a slight glitch, though. Candidates within five votes of one another require a mandatory recount. Meaghers, with 75 votes and Chris Waltrip, with 73 votes called for a recount.
“The Webmaster recounted the ballots and found the results to be the same,”said Dean Bennett, ASNIC advisor.
When asked what the new senator’s plans would be now that they hold their new positions, they seemed a little confused as to what their plan would be.
“Just to get more people aware and involved in what’s going on around campus,” said Meagher of her plan.
Melissa Owens, who won a senatorial position with 103 votes, will be sworn in at the next ASNIC board meeting.
The four new senators join the current senators — Cain Sanchez, Jack Vanderlinden, Antonia Bancroft and Jenna Betts — along with VP, Jude DeTar, and Pres. Austin Folnagy.
October is Breast Awareness month, and Sanchez will have a booth in the SUB Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help increase awareness.
He is also arranging for the mammogram bus from Sacred Heart Hospital to visit the campus Oct. 31. The bus will serve as a place for women to receive free breast exams from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Vanderlinden will have an election booth in the SUB Nov. 4. He has arranged for a shuttle to taxi voters to and from the polls for the national election.
After the senators were sworn in, the board voted to pass Resolution 148. This was passed to continue funding to the Writing Center. ASNIC allocates $125 per semester for coffee to be purchased and consumed by students utilizing the center’s services. This figure will be raised to $200 with any extra money rolled over to the following semester.
“In the first four weeks we have quadrupled the amount of students that have come to use the Writing Center,” said English instructor Bob Bennett.
Nearly 1,000 students are expected to visit the center this semester. The resolution passed 7 to 1, with DeTar opposed because he felt a co-pay system would be more adequate if faculty members were also drinking the coffee.
“The faculty coming to get a cup of coffee was minimal compared to students using the Writing Center and having a cup of coffee,” Bennett said. “The current ratio is 30 to 1. ASNIC sponsoring the coffee is a nice way for them to put their name on the Writing Center.”
