The Senate got to work during its first meeting of the session, electing the speaker and vice speaker, along with two executive cabinet positions and four senators. 

After four rounds of voting and waiving the bylaws, Ryker Markus, a sophomore majoring in agricultural and life sciences education, has been elected as the vice speaker of the Senate. 

In the Student Government bylaws, it is stated that a candidate for speaker or vice speaker must get a ¾ vote in order to win the position. Sen. Bayne Bernal, a first-year majoring in agricultural business and Sen. Ben Dauman, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, were removed during the first two rounds of voting. 

This left Markus and Sen. Sofia De Lima Barbosa in the final two rounds. 

Ultimately, Markus won the vote 15-10-2. 

In his opening remarks, Markus noted that he wants to be a vice speaker that senators can go to for help to achieve their goals. He also noted that he is a strong believer in Robert’s Rules of Order and making sure bylaws are taken seriously. 

“I think that following the procedures we have is very important, but I also think that as a new senator, it’s a lot to take in,” Markus said. “That is why I think the Student Government’s biggest strength is our ability to work together and help each other finish these projects, achieve these goals and learn not only what we can do for our constituents, but also what we can do for each other and all the students we collectively represent.” 

During the debate, in which the candidates left the room, many senators struggled to decide who would be the best fit. Since Dauman admitted to deciding to join the race yesterday to give senators more options, most of the conversation surrounded Markus, Lima Barbosa and Bernal. 

While Bernal persuaded many senators to vote for him, Sen. Noah Srenaski, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, was concerned by his lack of experience as a first-year student. 

“I think that some of the other candidates have had a lot more time to really be involved in Student Government and learn all the ins and outs of what we all do,” Srenaski said. “And I think that Ben [Dauman] looks a little bit less prepared than the other candidates today. So for me, it’s between Lima-Barbosa and Markus.” 

On that same track, Sen. Noah Kammeyer, a senior majoring in political science, put his support behind Markus due to his experience in the rules committee. 

“I think that they’re all great, but I am going to be voting for Sen. Markus,” Kammeyer said. “I think that he has a lot of benefits in terms of experience; he’s actually been on the Rules Committee the longest of the four, which some of you might not know… I think that he really cares about this organization. He had an opportunity when he had to step back last semester to just be done with Student Government, and instead, he was almost immediately, like, I want to rejoin, like, this is my passion.” 

Claire Hartley, a junior majoring in political science, was elected in a 26-1-1 vote to become the speaker of the Senate. 

While Hartley was thought to be the only candidate running for the position, which does receive a scholarship, Dauman was also nominated, after, as stated above, he decided the day before the meeting that Hartley should not run uncontested. 

Dauman noted that he decided to run for the position because he wanted to see more competitive races in the Student Government. 

“In the last election, we had zero contested Senate seats,” Dauman said. “I want to try to increase outreach so that people who sit in this room, not to knock anyone for the work that you have done and will do, but to make sure that people here are ones who their constituents decided have the best ideas and [are] the best candidate for the job.” 

Hartley outlined her five-part plan as speaker, including transparency, structure, support, culture and communication. She plans to implement strategies to help current and new senators, including an updated baby bylaws, increasing the accessibility of outreach opportunities and implementing biweekly Student Government reports. 

“I believe in this body,” Hartley said. “I believe in the students we represent. I believe that with the right structure, support and leadership, the Senate can be a place where people feel connected and proud to serve.” 

The following internal matters were passed without dissent 

• Seating Emily Carr, a junior majoring in global resource systems, as an LAS senator 
• Seating Aidan Szpak, a sophomore majoring in industrial technology, as an off-campus residence senator
• Seating Joey Romare, a sophomore majoring in political science, as a fraternity residence senator 
• Seating Emma Vallie, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, as a College of Engineering senator 
• Seating Srishti Nandal, a junior majoring in data science, as chief of staff, following an executive nomination 
• Seating Luv Saini, a junior majoring in marketing, as the finance director, following an executive nomination 

The following bill was read for the first time and will be discussed and voted on in a future meeting. 

• Funding $143 to glow-sticks and other event supplies for VolleyBrawl 

The next Student Government meeting is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Union.