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Student votes speak, new officials elected

April 24, 2009

By Brittany Hardy
Staff writer

Results for student body president, internal vice president and external vice president, were announced at 9 p.m. Thursday night on the Diadeloso stage, just before Dave Barnes took stage on Fountain Mall.

Cleburne junior Jordan Hannah ran unopposed and had an easy victory in his bid for student body president and said he is ready to take over the position.

"I'm very excited. I'm really just anxious to get started. I wish it was summer already so I could start getting to work," Hannah said.

Hannah's plans include representing the student voice to the administration and the Board of Regents and improving the student relationship with the Board of Regents.

He said he hopes to lay the groundwork for a student representative on the Board of Regents.

Hannah also plans to improve accessibility for handicapped students on campus.

Houston sophomore Michael Wright was in a tight race against Plano junior Jessica Liu for the internal vice president position. Wright was announced the winner and said he too is ready to get to work.

"I'm just most excited about getting to work and starting to work with individual organizations and groups around campus and making sure the student voice is well-heard," Wright said.

Wright said he plans to make certain Student Senate is focused on serving students with every decision they make.

Additionally, Wright plans to build a strong relationship with both Faculty Senate and Staff Council to work with them on issues that affect the Baylor community.

Amarillo sophomore Emily Saultz won the position of external vice president, beating out opponents Seabrook sophomore Michael Horne and current office holder, Lindale junior Nicole Yeakley.

"I'm very honored and humbled and I cannot wait to serve Baylor and the community as external vice president," Saultz said.

Saultz's plan is to focus on strengthening the relationship between Baylor and the Waco community.

"I want to speak on behalf of the student body to the city administration, and to work alongside city officials to make Waco a more 'college-friendly' town," Saultz said in an interview on Monday.

Saultz also plans to help Baylor students get involved by raising awareness of volunteer opportunities in Waco, by initiating regular meetings with the philanthropy and service chairs of each student organization. She also plans to keep students informed about local elections and encourage them to vote locally, and thus becoming more involved in their community.

"I'm mostly anxious to get in there and learn what I need to be doing and I'm looking forward to working with (Wright) and (Saultz) to see what we can accomplish next year. I will sit down, the three of us, and plan out the year ... Once I get to talk with those two, I'll know better what we're going to do," Hannah said.

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