Isaac Sandidge was elected as the new Student Senate speaker for the spring 2010 semester by a vote of 14 to 13 in his favor, with one abstention.

His brother and competing candidate Jason Sandidge will remain on the Student Senate and was the first to congratulate him upon the announcement of the outcome that garnered a standing ovation.

“My job as speaker would not be to pursue my own goals,” Isaac Sandidge said to the Student Senate members prior to vote. “My job as speaker would be to aid you in pursuing yours. I want to work together with you to help you get your goals accomplished.”

Following his appeal to the Student Senate, Isaac Sandidge was submitted to a brief period of questions that focused on the measures he intends to take to unify the Senate.

“I would like to disband the UPS and PULSE parties and allow you all to enter my party- the Student Government party,” Isaac Sandidge said. “The dues are two office hours a week. I want us to start fostering communication and working together as one unified body.”

Jarrod Scherle, the newly re-elected vice president of business affairs, spoke on Isaac Sandidge’s behalf in an attempt to sway the vote.

“Isaac Sandidge spent more time in this room than anyone else,” Scherle said. “He looks out for the rookies and the veterans alike. There are more first-semester senators than ever, and we need someone like Isaac Sandidge to guide us. Let’s look beyond the party lines that got you in these seats.”

Student Body President Michelle Murphy also praised Isaac Sandidge for the commitment he has demonstrated to the Student Government in the past.

“Isaac runs a very strict Senate,” Murphy said. “The student body could really benefit from Isaac. He’s always told us, ‘don’t be sheepish, but a senate of wolves.'”

When the votes were counted, Isaac Sandidge immediately replaced Tiffany Turner, the former speaker of the Senate, at the head of the table and began making arrangements to hold the first Student Senate meeting of the semester within the first week of returning after break.

“Get ready,” Isaac Sandidge said, “we’re coming.”

Murphy expressed approval with the outcome.

“I think it’s great,” she said. “I supported Isaac from the beginning. He’s the reason I’m here. He’s quality. He’s definitely quality.”

Isaac Sandidge will be leading the Student Senate meetings for the remainder of the school year. The elected senators that will make up the Senate are as follows:

On Campus

Erika Collier, Alexandra Boyd, Vince Kroll, Holly Henry, Matthew Boyd, Mary Lane, Lindsey Woodcock and Benjamin Mapes

Off Campus

Noe Lara, Matthew Pickham, Demarlon Brown, Isaac Sandidge, Carissa Coon and Paul Stephens

At-Large

Aaron Wiessing, Scott Viverito, Nahder Houshmand, Craig Wolf, Tommy Nierman, Otis Seawood and Kristina Bailey

Constitution referendum

The constitution referendum passed with 557 votes out of a total of 837 ballots cast.

Erica Whelan can be reached at 581-7942 or elwhelan@eiu.edu.

Sara Schoolman, a junior special education major, submits her ballot during Student Senate elections Tuesday afternoon outside the Martin Luther King Jr. University Food Court.(Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

(more…)