Kean University’s Student Government Voting Goes Up Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

By Emily Robles | Published by May 11, 2020

The office of Student Government officially announced its election results for the new 2020-2021 school year. The results were posted on Cougar Link on April.16 with senior Lindsey Gonzalez being elected Executive Board President with over 300 votes and senior Alyssa Edgar elected as Executive Vice President with over 300 votes as well. Despite the election taking place during COVID-19, many people still voted. 

Students were able to cast their votes and pick who they wanted for other positions as well, such as, Graduate and Part-time Student Council President, Vice President of Special Projects, and Vice President of Programming. As well as class presidents, vice presidents, and other board members. Voting took place on Cougar Link from April 13-April 16.

Newly elected Vice President of Special Projects is Rhyan Almonacy who won with 325 votes. The new Vice President of Programming is Chelsea Leon who won with 152 votes. The new Graduate and Part-time Student Council President is Gabriella Lapointe who won with 32 votes. 

Sarah Fedak is the class of 2021’s new Senior President, along with newly elected Senior Vice President Aissatou Diallo. Fedak won with 144 votes and Diallo with 71 votes. The New Junior Class of 2022 President is Kierstin McIlwrath who won with 109 votes. The sophomore class of 2023 President is Jordan Johnson who won with 36 votes. Compared to last year, the class votes for the student president’s all went up by at least 30 votes. 

In the 2019-2020 school year, 129 votes were counted for the position of Senior class president while this year 160 votes were counted for. 91 votes were counted for the position of  Junior class president last year while this year 125 votes were counted for. Last year 48 votes were counted for the Sophomore class president position while this year 75 votes were counted for. 

“My passion for serving others and leadership inspired me to run for Executive President,” said Gonzalez. “Ever since my sophomore year, I wanted to run for this position because I knew I can make a difference, and inspire others to accomplish great things.”

 Compared to last year, almost 100 more students voted for this position. In the 2019-2020 school year,  298 votes were counted for Executive Board President while this year 388 votes were counted. 

Now as president, Gonzalez’s duties include managing the Executive Board to ensure the mission of Kean’s Student Government is carried out, as well as communicating with students to let them know that the Student Government is always available to them, she said. 

“Some Ideas that I plan on making is working with the Executive Board and staff to help come up with programs and events so that they may be available to students who dorm and have very little to do on the weekends,” said Gonzalez. 

Gonzalez wants to work with building up student involvement and make them aware that there are many things to do while on campus. Gonzalez states as president she hopes to make Kean a better place than how it was in its previous years. 

Edgar, the new Executive Vice President said she has been a part of the Student Organization for the past three years as Secretary, ranging from class secretary to the executive board secretary. 

“When it came time to figure out my senior year and what I wanted to do, I knew that I had to be a part of it,” said Edgar. 

Edgar’s responsibilities now as Vice President include overseeing the four class presidents ensure they are succeeding. 

“I also help out the board with whatever is needed especially in the absence of a member from the board.”

With this being Edgar’s last year on the board, she plans on leaving a mark on the organization after she leaves.

“I haven’t figured out exactly what that is yet but I feel it will be along the lines of the job I formerly had with the organization,” said Edgar. “I think I will help create something that can be passed down to future holders of the position.”

The office of Student Government is located at the University Center in room 309 and they can be found on social media @KeanStudentGov to learn more.

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