One year ago – almost to the day — Megan Marzec was arrested in the Governance Room of Walter Hall for refusing to leave a protest at the Board of Trustees meeting.
Wednesday evening, she stood in the same place to take her oath as the newly elected president of Student Senate — a “phenomenal” feeling, Marzec said.
She, along with Vice President Caitlyn McDaniel and Treasurer Carter Phillips, was sworn into office by Ryan Lombardi, vice president of Student Affairs, at Wednesday evening’s Student Senate meeting.
“I’m really excited to see what Megan, Caitlyn and Carter would do next year” said Adam Brown, former treasurer of Student Senate. He added it will be interesting to see how effectively the three will be able to communicate what they want, since their ideas are so different from each others.
But while senate members celebrated the induction of their new members, it was also a bittersweet goodbye for some.
“I didn’t realize that (my time on Student Senate) would not only change me as a person, but I would meet my best friends,” said Emma Wright, chief of staff. “The best part is watching all of you grow too.”
Lombardi, who noted the use of words like “adversity” and “turbulence” in the commissioners’ reflections of this year, encouraged the body members to reframe their perspectives and think of this year’s difficulties as a time of “discourse.”
“Those moments of discourse are when you grow the most,” Lombardi said. “When the most positive change happens.”
Several members of this year’s Student Senate were given the honored status of Senate Emeritus, including former President Anna Morton; former Vice President Mary Kate Gallagher; Hashim Pashtun, international affairs commissioner; Talie Carter, women’s affairs commissioner; Wright; and Patricia Roberts, an alumna who served as treasurer for Student Senate in 2011.
Senate Emeriti can return to Student Senate to speak and continue to use the senate’s office in Baker 305.
Senior honors were also awarded to Kelsey Higgins, former director of interns; Mackenzi Bentley, University College representative; Gerrod Schirtzinger, academic affairs commissioner; Matt Gusler, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine representative; and Brown.
Lombardi also gave Morton a gavel with her name on it, in honor of her time as Student Senate president.
“While this year has been filled with adversity for this whole body, I wouldn’t take it back for anything,” Morton said. “I’m really proud of the people who are here with me today.”
@carolinebartels
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