Sigma Phi Epsilon takes three exec board spots
By Rachel Stengel
Junior Brian Williams is Rider’s new Student Government Association (SGA) president following the elections on Tuesday.
He is one of the three executive board members to be elected from Sigma Phi Epsilon. The other three new executive board members include: vice president, Lorelei Colbert; treasurer, Michael Blake; and secretary Adam Grossman.
Williams said his main focus will be unifying the Lawrenceville and Westminster campuses.
“The executive board in the past has worked with Westminster,” he said. “We’re going to keep on building that relationship because I know that’s a really great relationship we can keep. We learned a lot from each other, our campus and their campus and just keep working with clubs and organizations. We try to increase diversity and make sure that we’re moving toward one university rather than two separate campuses.”
Colbert, a freshman, expressed her gratitude toward the student body for electing her.
“I’m very excited,” said Colbert. “I’m honored that I got so such support from the whole student body. I based my campaign on unity and spirit and I guess that’s really what the student body wanted so I can’t wait to bring it to them next year.”
Her plans for next year coincide with her campaign platform — school spirit and unity.
“Next year I want to base [my administration] on school spirit,” said Colbert. “We need cranberry and white driven through each and every Bronc because here we are the Broncs. [Rider is] the home of the Broncs and we need to feel like a community. Also, we need support everywhere. We need it in the gyms, in the theaters. We just need to love each other, support one another and make our experience the best it can be here at Rider.”
Grossman, also a freshman, said he sees a need for student inclusion in SGA proceedings.
“Next year I really want to make the notes and the agenda of SGA and Senate available to the student body so they don’t have to necessarily go to a meeting to know what’s going on,” he said.
Students came out to cast their votes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the SRC using authentic voting booths. The student turnout was about 800, according to current SGA presdient Brian Guzman. The vote totals for each candidate are not revealed the night of the election because of the stress and anxiety that already plagues the candidates, Guzman said. Candidates and students can request to view the vote totals by contacting the Office of Campus Life, he said.
To further encourage students to vote, impersonators for Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Bill Clinton were hired. The doppelgangers wandered campus entertaining students and reminding them to vote. A plethora of “I voted!” stickers were noticeable around campus.
The results were revealed in the SRC atrium at 8 p.m. to a crowd of approximately 50 students and faculty. Other elected positions announced included class councils, Association of Commuting Students, Residence Hall Association, Finance Board and Greek Council.
