On Wednesday, the Student Government Association (SGA) announced in an email that its new constitution passed Monday’s student vote with a unanimous tally in favor.

Its policies will be fully enacted starting the next academic year. In the meantime, parts of the new constitution will go into effect starting this semester:

• Revised SGA Oath of Office: will be condensed to an oath based on the United States presidential oath.

• Budget process for clubs will be updated to prepare for the upcoming semesters.

• Updated voting process and timeline for the presidential and senate elections.

Timeline for elections

Beginning on Tuesday, Bethel students have been given the opportunity to begin their pursuit of the SGA presidency or vice presidency.

Students can pick up a petition from Sam Bond’s office in Student Life, located on the bottom floor of the Administration Building, or download a form from the SGA website under the ‘official forms’ tab.

To be an eligible candidate for the President/Vice President position, a candidate must be a full-time Bethel College student by the registrar's standards and be enrolled in fall classes. A candidate must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be “in good judicial standing” with the institution.

The entire election cycle schedule is as follows:

• March 17: Presidential petitions due

• March 20-27: Presidential campaign

• March 27-28: Presidential elections

• March 29: Presidential results

• March 31: Senate applications due

• April 3-10: Senate campaign

• April 10-11: Senate elections

• April 12: Senate results

“As an overall wish, I hope the [next] president continues with the narrative that change and adaptation along with the new students that come to Bethel is good and remembers that it’s okay if something needs to change,” said Taylor Dashney, current president of the SGA and senior from Edmond, Okla.

“Things that worked this year may not work next year, and again, that’s okay.” 

Petitions must receive a total of fifteen signatures from Bethel students, not including graduating seniors. Petitions for the presidential election must be turned in by March 17. Campaigning will begin on March 20 and continue through the 28th. Election results will be released on the 29th. Then, the senatorial election process will follow.