The first Government of the Student Body senate meeting concentrated on filling positions for the new senate.

Adam Krupicka, GSB senator and graduate student in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology-liberal arts and sciences, was appointed to the position of speaker of the senate Wednesday, beating out Charles Wakefield, GSB senator and senior in computer engineering, in a vote of 20-3-1.

Krupicka said he was qualified for the position due partly to his experience with GSB finance. He said most of the bills that came to the rules committee – of which the speaker of the senate is chairman – last year were finance bills.

Krupicka also said he was familiar with the bylaws, which is an important part of being speaker.

“More important than that is understanding why those rules were put into place,” he said.

Krupicka said he was also qualified for the position because he is good with working with others.

“I think this is a job about people,” he said.

Wakefield said he was qualified because of the fact that he had attended most of the rules committee meetings last semester.

He also said his experience with being chair of the public relations committee gave him experience for the position.

There were a few goals Wakefield said he had for the upcoming senate session.

Wakefield also said he wanted to improve interaction with constituents and administration.

He said the senate needed to be able to discuss issues outside of meetings.

“I think we need to improve our interaction with each other,” he said.

Michelle Bohan, GSB senator and graduate student in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology-agriculture, said Krupicka was well-qualified because of his strong work ethic.

“He will work to the bone,” she said.

Elisa Berzins, GSB senator and sophomore in marketing, said she was concerned with the direction of the debate and that people were being too biased and should concentrate on who would be the best at speaking for the senate.

Timothy Reineke, GSB senator and junior in political science, said he did think it was important to consider this and that Wakefield would do a good job of representing the legislative branch.

Paul Keppy, GSB senator and sophomore in political science, won the position of vice speaker.

GSB senators Wakefield, Jonathan Turk, freshman in political science, and Sarah Rammelsberg, sophomore in agricultural education, filled the rest of the remaining rules committee positions.

Another position filled at Wednesday’s meeting was GSB senator representative on the Special Student Fees and Tuition committee.

Thomas Danielson, junior in civil engineering, won the position.

Christopher Hynak, graduate student in accounting, was voted GSB representative on the transit board.

The meeting continued past publication time.