Photo By: Jasmine Mills

JCCC holds elections in April to select a new executive board for the upcoming school year, which will serve during the fall and spring semesters. However, after the April election, the newly elected president and vice president left JCCC, leaving the Student Senate leaderless, as they were scheduled to serve on the executive board.  

Without the president, vice president and other executive board members in place, the Senate faced an unusual start to the fall semester. The Senate would not be able to conduct normal business, hold regularly scheduled meetings or run the four committees it oversaw. 

The Student Senate is the official voice of JCCC students. Students advocate for student needs, support student organizations and help improve campus life. The Senate comprises five executive officers and 25 senators.  

Cassie Jordan, manager of Student Life and Leadership and the Advisor for Student Senate, faced a decision and had questions about who would lead the board.  

To conduct business and operate the Student Senate, a new Executive Board had to be appointed. Jordan read the bylaws and, as an adviser, had the authority to appoint an Interim Executive Board. The students she named were those she trusted and who had been active on the JCCC campus.  

Ashley Calibo, Priviledge Mudzembwe, Iskandar Azizi, and Erick Friel were selected to serve on the Interim Executive Board.  

“I chose them because of relationship,” Jordan said. “They have different viewpoints coming in; they’re a pretty dynamic group.” 

Jordan sees this as an opportunity to build something new along with the Interim Executive Board. It’s not starting over, but it’s building—building a Senate and building something that the students at JCCC can be proud of.  

“Our primary goals are recruitment and visibility,” Jordan said.  

The Interim Executive Board sees it the same way. Erick Friel, a student at JCCC, likes the idea of helping to build something. 

“I’ve always been a big fan of rebuilding,” Friel said. “I can say I was there at the beginning. So that appeals to me.”  

Priviledge Mudzembwe, a student at JCCC, enjoys the idea of getting involved on campus and building a new Senate.  

“I like sharing information on the Senate,” Mudzembwe said.  

With the Interim Executive Board in place, the next step is to hold elections for the 25 senators that will make up the Senate. Students interested in running for Senate can submit applications. They can either submit an application online or stop by the Center for Student Involvement in GEB 117 to submit an application in person. 

The deadline for submissions is Sept. 17, and then the election will be held Sept. 21, 22, and 23. Emails will go out to all JCCC students, and they will have a chance to voice their opinions and vote for the 25 senators who will represent them in Student Senate. Senators that have been elected will be announced by Friday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.  

After the Senate is in place, Jordan said they will hold the executive board election in October.  

“That will give space to senators who are curious to run for the executive board, just a little bit of time to work in the committees and see if they like it,” Jordan said.  

A new kickoff for the Student Senate will take place in January, after the new Executive Board is elected.