With another year over and the 69th Houghton Senate at its close, the College Cabinet looks forward to new changes as senators move in, move up, and move out of their elected positions and on to greater things.
The 70th Senate will welcome President Benjamin Hardy, Vice President Andiana Sidell, Chaplain David Bruno, and Treasurer Josiah Evans. Other positions have yet to be filled. When asked what he looks forward to most in this coming year, President Benjamin Hardy said, “I’d like to streamline policies, operations, and procedures to make it easier for future student leaders to do their job. One way we hope to do this is through committees and councils in the SGA by prioritizing them more that we have in the past.”
Hardy is no stranger to the student government, he served as the Vice President for the 69th Senate, a college senator for the 68th, and class president in the 67th.
President of the 69th Senate, Joel Ernst, says incoming president Hardy will bring a new set of strengths to the College Cabinet; he said, “Ben has the potential to have a great year as SGA President. He has a lot of expertise as an SGA member.” Ernst believes that Ben has a good understanding of the College’s needs and will provide a good link between the students and administration. His strong opinions and boldness will enable him to be an effective leader.
Each member looks eagerly towards the opportunities their positions allow them. Dave Bruno, the incoming Chaplain, said, “My biggest hope for this position is that through serving as SGA Chaplain I will be able to help facilitate greater unity among the many spiritually focused groups on campus as well as a greater awareness of all the opportunities for spiritual growth that Houghton offers. Imagine if we were all able to be unified and work together for the spiritual growth of our campus. What could we see happen?”
Josiah Evans, incoming SGA Treasurer, hopes to be able to work for students who are involved in planning activities. He would like to help them figure out the best way to fund their events.
As new members, filled with both anticipation and excitement, prepare for this upcoming year, the previous year’s Cabinet looks back on a year of hard, yet rewarding, work.
Speaker of the 69th Senate, Joshua Mertzlufft, reflected on a Cabinet that he found to be pleasantly close-knit. He enjoyed the healthy debate that the Cabinet fostered as opposed to the argument and disquiet that previous years have harbored.
In tracing back through the year, Mertzlufft reflected that the Cabinet may have spent too much time on political matters and not enough on action. He would like to see this upcoming year’s Cabinet stretch out of its comfort zone more and act rather than deliberate. He said he would also enjoy seeing more collaboration between the senators outside of meetings.
One of the changes already set in motion for this coming year is the recent restructuring of Senate. The restructuring has added new positions for both academic and athletic senators.
While some of the new cabinet members are looking forward to this change, others are