Loose ends were tied up tight Wednesday as the ASUO Student Senate filled several vacant student government positions — at the same time electing leaders of its own for the summer months.
The senators handed the summer chair position to Sen. Katie Howard and the vice chair position to Sen. Dave Sanchez, who ran unopposed.
Howard said her goal in the next few months is to start the senate’s ball rolling in the right direction.
“I think that the summer is a really important time to build relationships between senate and student groups,” she said.
Sanchez said his goals fell closely in line with Howard’s, adding that he wants to re-invent what the senate is and what it does.
In appointments, the ASUO Constitution Court received two new members as undergraduate students Kawezya Hutchinson and Rachel Pilliod were confirmed to justice positions. There are still two spots open on the court heading into the summer.
Hutchinson, the former ASUO federal affairs coordinator, said she wants to be a part of the court because she thinks it is a good place for students to go when they need help.
“I love to serve,” she said.
Pilliod, who was an intern with the executive office’s legislative team this year, said she wants the court to work on more issues than just the elections, and that a lot of students don’t realize the court is available to them.
“I’m no expert at this point,” she said. “But I hope to learn a lot.”
ASUO President Nilda Brooklyn spoke in favor of both, pointing out that undergraduates sitting on the court often face a disadvantage.
“Both of these women have a really quick learning curve,” Brooklyn said. “And I think they’ll be a great asset to the court.”
Filling two of three vacant positions on the senate itself, two former senators regained positions, pushing the number of returning senators to nine.
After losing to Sen. Arlie Adkins in the general election earlier this term, Sen. Kate Kranzush returned to the Athletic Department Finance Committee — but not to her old seat. Kranzush is taking over the spot left open by former Sen. Jennifer Greenough, who resigned because she is graduating.
“I lost twice [before],” Kranzush said. “It kind of shows my determination and how much I care for ADFC and the issues.”
Sen. Devin Dinihanian also returned to the senate, saying he thinks there are a lot of things the body can do differently.
“I had kind of a tough time with senate the first time around, and things started to make sense toward the end so I thought it would be beneficial to do another year,” he said.
The senate also appointed students to two open EMU Board positions and one open ADFC position.