SGA approves cabinet positions in the House and Senate
Nearly ending in a tie broiled in debate, the Student Government Association elected freshman Nolan Kamoo as Senate Leader during the Aug. 24 SGA meeting.
General Board elected half of the 20 vacant senator positions for this semester, filled key cabinet positions and approved the budget for the academic year.
Senators had to contend with a tied vote for senate leader nominees, sophomore Max Ranger and Kamoo. While there were different minute points to the discussion, overall senators were torn between electing Ranger, who is an experienced member of SGA; or Kamoo, a freshman new to college life. Senators debated for a long while before Brett Houle, Vice President of SGA, broke the tie. With the nominees being questioned and examined more heavily, the meeting lasted 20 minutes longer than it was supposed to.
Houle elected Kamoo due to his willingness to communicate and grow alongside new and returning senators, he said.
"What makes a good senate leader isn't necessarily their experience or longevity with the organization," Houle said before announcing his decision. "It's really just whoever is able to communicate and be a team player."
Kyle Walker, sophomore, was elected as Speaker of the House in the SGA House meeting. Sophomore Olivia Schwartz was approved during General Board to be the Executive Secretary of SGA in a unanimous vote.
The total budget allocated to SGA this year was $24,000, the same amount as last year, but more money was allocated to committees. The tampon initiative, a program by SGA that gives people access to tampons in restrooms, had funds reallocated towards the committee budget because of a rise in online enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RSOs can still sign up their SGA representatives for two more weeks, ending on September 7. The form can be found by going to SGA's Engage Central portal.