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James Lyons became the third student body president in a row not voted in by student vote during the Sept. 2 meeting of the General Student Senate. One of Lyons’ missions is to change the process that gave him his seat.
Lyons is considering proposing a resolution to change the election dates from spring semester to fall.
“In campaigns people always talk about taking an extra semester, but it never ends up that way,” Lyons said.
The reason Student Government (SG) elections run in December is to help the new president adjust to his or her office while the last president is still present. If the elections changed to September, this would not be the case.
“It would eliminate the support system, but the support system really isn’t there,” Lyons said.
Because seniors often build up the best experience, have the most friends and rapport, it is the nearly-graduating students who get elected.
“You get elected your senior year. It’s how the system works out,” Lyons, a third-year, said. “It’s hard for a junior or a sophomore to win an election against a senior.”
Lyons took the presidential spot when former SG President Steven Moran resigned. Moran was accepted to the University of Maine’s higher education program where he will work with student organizations as a graduate assistant.
Moran’s original plan was to finish his presidential term by taking an additional major in history. “I tried to tailor it so I could stay in the presidency to help with the stability of Student Government, but other opportunities presented themselves,” he said.
Like Lyons, Moran took office when former president William Pomerleau resigned. Pomerleau got the position when former president Priyanth Chandrasekar resigned because of his acceptance into the London School of Economics with a scholarship. Pomerleau then ran and was elected by student vote into his seat until his resignation in December of last year.
Moran called the early resignations, and therefore unelected student body presidents, “a string of bad luck.” He agreed a lot of the issue is in the scheduling.
“By the time you’ve built the connections and leadership roles you’re getting to the end of your collegiate career,” he said.
Lyons’ experience includes being the vice president of SG last semester, and a senator from spring 2007 until the spring 2008. Lyons also worked as an intern for the Minority Staff of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C. this summer.
“I completely understand students’ frustrations at not having an elected executive; it frustrates me,” Lyons said.
His new vice president, Erica Paradis, agrees.
“I feel that it is unfortunate that James is the third president, as it is for me to be in the position of vice president, because we are here to represent the students by their votes. And any changes that should be made I feel should be left up to the student body and the General Student Senate,” she said.
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