The Hawk

Issue date: 12/1/06 Section: News

Michael McDonald, '08, will begin his term as Student Body President on Jan. 1.

Michael McDonald, '08, will be the next University Student Senate Student Body President, having run unopposed in the recent elections.

630 students, approximately one-seventh of the student body, voted on Tuesday and Wednesday, down considerably from last year's 1,400, and even less than the 935 from the year before.

McDonald met the Board of Trustees at its quarterly meeting this morning. His term officially begins on Jan. 1.

McDonald plans to begin his term by examining the current structure of the student government and see what he can do to "make it more approachable to students and make it more effective in channeling student input to the administration." He said, "Expect to see a much more actively open Senate in the coming months."

Until his term begins, he will continue to work as Vice President for Academic Affairs, mainly compiling a student response to the General Education Program Report released as a part of the Curricular Review.

As for the election itself, McDonald says, "Certainly, I am disappointed in the voter turnout and in the very low number of contested races." He does not believe this is an indication of student apathy, but a result of the lack of advertisement for the election as well as student education about the important and function of student government. It is possible that the low turnout will hurt his status in the eyes of the administration, he said, but he is determined to overcome any doubts of his legitimacy as president.

"Although I was elected, unopposed, by 630 students, I am still the representative of all 4,100 of you [the students], and I intend to act as such."

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