Senator election results announced for new SGA structure
Warkentin Court, Haury and Voth Hall residents and commuter students confirm their representatives.
On Monday, the Bethel College student body got the opportunity to vote for their Student Government Association (SGA) senators for this academic year.
In the past, senators would be elected for each grade, usually two or three for both semesters and often undergoing turnover at the semester break as schedules change for existing members.
With the intense revisions made officially last semester to the SGA, this structure was one of the updates designed to better fit the student body’s needs. Instead of senators designated for each class, senators were instead elected for each residence hall.
“We have hope that it will work better,” said SGA President and junior Hayden Wallace from Moundridge. “Our idea is that you interact with your residence halls much more than members of your class. If this is true, then communication between student and senator should be easier — at least that’s our hope.”
Students from Haury Hall, Voth Hall, Warkentin Court, as well as commuters were elected to advocate for students in light of recent changes to housing prices, advocacy for cleanliness, and the odd problem or plea arising from the campus population.
In an email to the student body on Wednesday, the SGA announced the results.
The Haury Hall senate representatives are sophomore Isaiah Smith, freshman Taryn Paulino, and freshman Mohamed Farah. Smith is a Community Assistant for Haury Hall. Warkentin Court senate representatives are sophomore Kylah Rome and junior Dulce Erazo-Tejada.
“As a senator, I would like to be an advocate for the Warkentin residents who may have concerns and see in what way I could help,” said junior Dulce Erazo-Tejada from Newton. “I could be an additional resource by having a listening ear and taking those concerns to the rest of the senate and the executive board. I'm learning that to make a change on campus you have to be the change.”
Voth Hall senate representatives are sophomore Maria Cortes-Hernandez and junior Tara Atchison. The representatives for commuter students are seniors Jalyn Todd and Chance Rogers.
“My hope for my role as a senator for commuters is to do what is best for them,” said Todd from Oklahoma City, Okla. “Being a commuter can be hard, especially for athletes and others in extracurricular activities. Most of us have to get jobs on top of [those], school, and other stresses.
“My goal is to be the one commuters can come to with any complaint or question. ... Just because we don’t live on campus doesn’t mean we aren’t a part of campus.”
These senators have been elected for the 2023-2024 academic year unless extenuating circumstances cause them to leave their position. The SGA will host their first meeting in the coming weeks.