Applications open for freshmen at large Senate Seats

Applications for two freshmen at large senate seats are open until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Freshmen at large senators represent and vote on behalf of their class within Student Senate. Their responsibilities include attending meetings, voting on legislation and evaluating bills and resolutions in committees. Freshmen applicants are required to be full-time students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours and with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Joanna Whipple, political science/philosophy junior, handles all Student Court matters and Student Government Association elections. Whipple said the new senators will be expected to help set goals for SGA and influence the direction of student government during their term as a freshman senator.

“There are two seats for freshme nat large Senators, so the two candidates who receive the most votes by the student body are elected to the position,” she said.

Freshman at large Senators are elected by the last week of September each year and are sworn in at the senate meeting following their election.

Austin Gipson-Black, religion/philosophy and political science junior, is the vice president of SGA and chair of the Student Senate. Gipson-Black said freshmen at large senators are the same as other senators, the only difference is who they represent.

“The freshmen at large senators have the same voting rights as everyone else, but they only represent the freshmen class,” Gipson-Black said.

SGA Adviser Lesley Black said students can gain experience working collaboratively with other individuals, building consensus, thinking critically, and advocating for others within SGA.

“Involved students have the opportunity to appropriate money to student organizations, provide funding for student organizations, and they can put forth resolutions to request that the university pay attention to a particular issue and request the university provide certain service, and so on,” Black said.

Students who are interested in applying for other open senate seats should email Gipson-Black at gagipsonblack@my.okcu.edu for more information.