Graphic by Jieyu Feng ’22
BY LIZ LEWIS ’22
The results of the all-campus spring elections were announced on Thursday, March 28, when Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Programs Alicia Erwin sent out an email announcing the newly elected Class Board members. In her email, Erwin wrote, “The intent to run form for those positions not filled during the first election process is also now open! We encourage you to consider running for one of the SGA and Class Board positions that were not filled.” Voting was conducted via online polls, which opened on March 19 at 9 p.m. following that night’s “Meet the Candidates” event and closed on March 25 at 11:59 p.m.
The Student Government Association (SGA) at Mount Holyoke College was founded in 1898. According to the SGA website, “Comprised of the Executive Board, Senate and Committees, SGA strives to work towards the common goal of a positive, empowering and transformative experience for each Mount Holyoke student by bringing student voices to administrators, faculty and staff to create cohesion and address all issues pertaining to student life on campus.” SGA runs yearly elections that include the entire campus, allowing any student to vote for their respective class year’s board positions.
The open positions for this spring election season included all positions on the boards of the Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022, including President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations Officer and Chair of Committees. The positions of the Class of 2023 board will be elected in the fall. Six of the nine Student Government Association Executive Board Positions were also open, including President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations Officer and Chair of Committees. The Class of 2019 was also asked to elect individuals to positions pertaining specifically to their transition from students into alumnae, such as two Young Alum Trustees, two Co-Scribes, a Web Coordinator and Commencement and Baccalaureate Poem and Speeches.
The Class of 2019 elected Miesha Moss ’19 and Aicha Belabbes ’19 as Co-Scribes, Madison Walters ’19 as Webmaster and Anya Nandkeolyar and Joud Mar’i ’19 as Young Alum Trustees. For the Class of 2020, Olivia Vejcik ’20 was elected President, Rebecca Piperno ’20 as Vice President, Faryal Mirza ’20 as Treasurer, Kate Meacham ’20 and Minerva Veeser-Bobea ’20 as Social Chairs, Amal Fadoo ’20 as Secretary and Erica Grenger ’20 as Senator. The Class of 2021 only elected one new individual: Casey Roepke ’21 as Senator. The Class of 2022 elected Lea Sleiman ’22 as President, Domenica Guaman ’22 as Vice President, Linda Ma ’22 as Treasurer, Elle Bukosky ’22 and Sierra Millay ’22 as Social Chairs, Imaan Moin ’22 as Secretary and Sophie Vincent ’22 as Senator.
“I’m grateful to have had so much support from my peers in my class who encouraged me to run,” said Kate Meacham ’20 on her recent election as Social Chair. “Over the past three years, I’ve been involved with various student organizations on campus, but I’m looking forward to applying my skills in a new (and more fun) way to 2020 class board!”
As of Thursday, April 4, some election results have yet to be released. According to Erwin’s email, “due to a procedural question, the results of the Student Government Association executive board will be delayed by a few days. We look forward to announcing them.”