CORLISS SMITHEN |
ST. THOMAS – The results of the Student Government Association elections have been announced.
A week after the student body on the St. Thomas campus went to the polls to vote for the candidates of their choice, the SGA Elections Committee published the results in a general campus email on Wednesday morning.
According to the correspondence, the following students have been elected to serve as SGA officers for the upcoming academic school year 2015-2016:
President-elect: Yohance Henley
Vice President-elect: Cashkim Bussue
Treasurer-elect: Tonya Greene
Senior Senator-elects: Tonecia Rogers and Michelle Malone
Junior Senator-elects: Lisa-Marie Hodge and DeWein Pelle
Sophmore Senator-elects: Denine Hurtault and Kaunda Williams
(not pictured below: Michelle Malone and Kaunda Williams)
In an interview with the UVI Voice, Rogers thanked those who supported her and said she is honored to serve in her new capacity for the seniors’ benefit.
“It’s an opportunity that I won’t take lightly,” Rogers said.
For his part, Pelle thanked his constituents, support group, and the UVI community. He promised to “wholeheartedly dedicate my time and productivity in attempting to eradicate the grievances of the student body. We are all scintilla of the adept Virgin Islands environment. I intend to catapult our academic atmosphere by reintroducing and rebranding of academic programs such as assistance learning and expanding UVI outreach programs at the university to craft a congenial and altruistic relationship with the VI community.”
Greene said it is a wonderful feeling that the students entrusted their confidence in her to have her work on their behalves.
“I want to thank the students for giving me an opportunity to serve on the SGA,” she said.
The other elected members could not be reached for comment.
Students also voted on the referendum question: Do you think the Student Government Association members should receive adequate compensation each semester? A total of 248 students voted “yes,” while 78 indicated that they were not in favor of SGA members getting paid, according to the Elections Committee.
The day following the elections, Director of Student Activities Leon Lafond notified the student body via email that the results “have been postponed to accommodate some write-in candidates who have to be certified by the Access and Enrollment Services in order to declare their candidacy.”
Then, four days later, Lafond issued another e-mail to inform students of a further delay in announcing the outcome. “On behalf of the SGA Elections & Grievance Committees, there have been some inquiries about the official results for the 2015 Student Governance and Leadership elections,” the email read. I regret to inform you that the announcement has to be postponed due to unfortunate circumstances. At this present time, there are some grievances filed that need to be addressed accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the Student Representative to the Board of Trustees has not yet been named as the elections committee is awaiting the results from the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
The swearing-in ceremony for the SGA is scheduled for the fall semester. No date has yet to be set.
UVI VOICE 