Thursday may have been Marquette Student Government’s first official meeting of the semester, but the MUSG Senate is already shaping its future leadership.
With a 17-9 vote at the Jan. 28 meeting, the MUSG Senate decided to table the election of a new residential senator to the Student Organization Allocation Committee until this week. The Senate also confirmed a new program vice president during the meeting.
Senator Raviinder Gill, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, was the only senator to apply for the SOA committee position.
Senator Bill Doerrer was first to motion to table the election until this week’s meeting. He said since the SOA committee has little on their plate next month, waiting one more week to allow more senators the chance to apply would be appropriate.
“It’s immature to nominate someone with only 12 hours of applicable time to entertain that option,” said Doerrer, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences. “This is not enough time for people to even consider the option of applying.”
Communication Vice President Lauren Lakomek said applications for the SOA position were e-mailed to senators Thursday morning.
Senator Emil Ovbiagele argued against tabling the issue. He said Gill’s qualifications and ability to apply for the position in such a short time frame should grant him the position.
“Responsibility should be rewarded,” said Ovbiagele, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.
MUSG confirmed a new program vice president during the meeting, senator Carly Nusser.
Nusser, a junior in the College of Communication, said she plans to bring effective speakers who will encourage student attendance to campus. She also said she hopes to talk more with incoming freshmen about their expectations for MUSG-sponsored events.
Senators said Nusser has become a leader within MUSG in her first year in her current role.
“It’s amazing what she has done in this short time,” said senator Giuseppe Pappalardo, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences. “She was able to jump right in and instantly start making some really good changes.”
Ovbiagele also spoke to Nusser’s character.
“She is definitely someone we want with the MUSG emblem attached to her name,” Ovbiagele said.