From ballot to boardroom: Chapman welcomes a new wave of student leaders

Photo by Emily Paris, Photo Editor

With thousands of votes cast, a new cohort of senators spanning different years and majors prepares to take office. 

Chapman’s Student Government Association (SGA) sought to fill 15 positions in the senatorial election. Voting was open for six days before the results were in on April 23.

SGA serves as the voice for undergraduates, working to implement policies and initiatives that reflect the needs and interests of students. 

An elections committee of seven students from different grade levels and majors oversaw the election process to ensure fairness. This was especially pertinent this election to avoid repeating the controversy that occurred during the SGA presidential elections earlier this semester. 

Each senator position has its responsibilities and focus points as they represent different sectors of the student body.

The student organizations senator, which advocates for the needs of Chapman’s student clubs and organizations, had four candidates running for the two available positions. Junior computer science major Carolina Caraballo Vélez won 36.87% of the votes and will serve with sophomore philosophy and communication studies double major Rebecca Mabamije, who received 23.74%.

During her time, Vélez said that she will look to strengthen administrative communication and ensure fair funding for student clubs and organizations. Mabamije hopes to build on connections between organizations by creating a networking banquet.

“Being on the executive board for a club, I had these ideas that I thought would make it easier and more fun for other clubs, and I hope to execute them during my time as senator,” Mabamije said.

The at-large senator focuses more broadly on campus-wide issues and had two candidates running. It was a tight race between junior political science major Nathan Palomares and freshman computer science major Shishir Gomatham. Ultimately, Palomares won with 49.85% of the votes.

As a commuter and first-generation student, Palomares wants to represent and advocate for other first-generation students, ensuring they have the resources and community they need to thrive.

“We are in an era of political uncertainty, so I want to be the one to advocate for our most vulnerable student population,” Palomares said.

Academic senators represent each school or college, ensuring that educational policies meet the needs of their peers.

Attallah College of Educational Studies students voted for freshman liberal studies major Jasmin Rojas to serve as their senator. Of the 169 voters, Rojas received 89.47%. She hopes to create wellness workshops to support mental health and provide clarity on the education major changes. 

“I aim to ensure every student feels seen, valued and supported within Attallah,” Rojas said. 

Argyros College of Business & Economics elected junior business administration major Emma Nguyen. She won with 51.96% of the votes. Nguyen is a commuter student who hopes to create better communication between students and administration while fostering meaningful communities. 

“This college helped me spark my ambition, and as a senator, I want to ensure every student feels the same passion and support,” Nguyen said. “I want to leave this community knowing that I have left a positive impact on those around me, and I look forward to finding ways to better serve my people.”

Sophomore health sciences major, Laura Le, won the senator seat for Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. With 1,204 total voters, Le won 65.06% of the votes. 

For Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences senator, sophomore political science major Stephanie Martinez won with 86.57% of the votes. Martinez hopes to create a mentorship program for first-generation students and to increase Wilkinson's professional development and networking opportunities.

The School of Pharmacy had the highest voter turnout at 29%. The 103 total voters elected unopposed first-year pre-pharmacy student Nikhil Dhodia as senator.

Dhodia said his main goals are to promote and advocate for the STEM department by supporting individual students and clubs related to STEM. He hopes to work with the Future Pharmacists Club to create a welcoming environment for current and future pharmacy students.

“I would like my constituents to know that I want their voices to be heard, whatever concerns they have, I would like to speak on behalf of them and support them to the best of my ability,” said Dhodia.

Taylor Eskew, a sophomore double major in computer science and physics, was elected senator for Schmid College of Science and Technology. 

College of Performing Arts elected CJ Prat, a junior music performance major with a classical guitar emphasis, who ran unopposed.

Fowler School of Engineering originally had no candidates running for the senator seat, but received several write-ins. Evan Figueroa, a third-year computer engineering student, received 44.73% of the 585 write-in votes cast. 

A voter turnout of 5% of the student body must be met to fill senator positions with only one candidate running. However, this was not met by all colleges.

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the School of Communication were unable to reach the 5% quota, so the senator seats will remain vacant until the fall elections.

Class senators represent the students within a specific year. The new sophomore senator will be business administration major Evelyn Gaona, and the senior senator will be pre-med health sciences major Jaden Norwood.

The junior senator seat had no candidates filed, and could not reach a 5% voter turnout for write-ins, meaning this seat will also remain vacant until the fall.