Freshmen election winners chosen

By Benjamin Circelli
Senior Staff Writer
October 11, 2006

Five new student government leaders were chosen during Student Government Association elections Oct. 4-5.

The elections were held in the Union during universal free period and from 5-7 p.m. at Treetops Café and Blue and Gold Dining Commons.

Out of the nine freshman students who ran, only five candidates could be selected. The winners were Maria Forsythe, Trisha Russo, Denniston “DJ” Muir, Stasia Ford and Brittany Muzychka. Ford and Muzychka appeared together on the ballot as a team they called the Golden Girls.

Although candidates were grouped by tickets like the Golden Girls, students were allowed to vote for people individually.

Each class at La Salle elects five senators to represent it every year. The five freshmen who won will now act as Freshman Senators for their class for the remainder of the school year. Their responsibilities include attending weekly Senate meetings and serving on University committees.

In about a week or so, the five Freshman Senators will collectively select one representative to serve as Executive Senator. This Senator will sit in on Executive Board meetings and will become part of this Board, which consists of the President, four Vice-Presidents and a newly appointed Chief of Staff.

These board members were selected at the end of the previous year, while the Freshman Senators are always elected the year they actually serve.

Jordan Feld, Executive Vice-President of Student Affairs for SGA, also serves as President of the Senate and the judge for freshmen elections.

“This year’s turnout for freshmen elections was excellent,” Feld said. “We thought there was a great turnout last year, and this year it was even higher." Any freshman student who had an interest in running was asked to collect 50 signatures within the freshman class by Sept. 29 in order to qualify. After submitting the petition, students were allowed to begin their campaign.

Each candidate’s campaign was directed specifically towards the rest of the freshman class, since they are the only students allowed to vote in the election. On Oct. 2, speeches were held on the Union Patio during free period.

Ford, who ran as part of the Golden Girls team, was very grateful for the support she received throughout her campaign.

“I’m so excited to have been elected to SGA. Everyone gave me such great support and overall it was an exciting experience for me,” she said. “I look forward to working with the other freshman Senators and can’t wait to get started.”

Muzychka, the other half of the Golden Girls, also appreciated all the support their team received.

“I had a lot of fun running for SGA and I look forward to working with the other senators,” she said.

The freshmen candidates who were not elected, or La Salle students who are not part of SGA in general, are still encouraged to attend the open meetings SGA hold every Tuesday night at 9:15 p.m. in Union 301.

“I want to issue a general thank you to everyone who came out, ran or voted, as well as congratulate the winners of this year’s freshmen elections,” Feld said.

circellib1@lasalle.edu