Kennesaw State’s Student Government Association promoted a new executive board member and appointed a new senator during its general body meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13, following changes in administration in weeks prior.
Sam Lefebvre was elected and sworn in as the new senator for the Honors College and First Year Students after receiving a majority of votes from sitting senators. J.J. Lopez was promoted to director of internal affairs, despite reservations from the senator for non-traditional students, Kaitlin Maginnis.
In voting, Maginnis asserted that she was not confident in Lopez’s ability to manage her new proposed position. These doubts were ultimately silenced by Jessica Watkins, recently appointed director of communications. Watkins reiterated the president’s plea to move forward.
President Carly Keller stressed that she was not okay with the current standings amongst senators and asked them, “how can we move on?” Keller added that recent bouts of negativity, drama and pettiness would no longer be tolerated under the new administration and that anything less would be consequential.
Following the appointment and approval of the new executive board member and senator, the members of SGA discussed their progress since their previous meeting on Jan. 30.
Keller and Vice President Masood Abdul Salaam shared news of their recent meetings with KSU President Dr. Pamela Whitten. They expressed her desire to shorten graduation time for undergraduate students through higher enrollment in summer courses and future plans to lower the costs of textbooks.
Bri Burleson-Williams, the new director of procedural operations, asked for approval of a governance committee composed of four senators. However, Samuel Brand, senator for the Coles College of Business and Vanessa Benitez, senator for the University College, were the only senators voted in, which further postponed the committee’s purpose.
Dr. Thomas Yannuzi from the Department of Leadership and Service made an announcement about upcoming opportunities for community service in March. Following this announcement, KSU Miracle celebrated raising $330,541.18 in funds for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, aided in part by the SGA.
Cade Lanktree contributed to this article.
