Eastern’s Student Senate appointed Senator Jasmine Yusef as the spring 2022 speaker of the senate Wednesday night at the 7th Street Underground in the Union.

At Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting, the senate held the election for the new speaker of the senate.

Jasmine Yusef, a sophomore English and philosophy major, was the only nominee for speaker.

Yusef was voted for speaker with 14 yeses and one abstained from the 15 present senators, the one abstaining being Yusef since the vote retained to her.

By the senate’s bylaws, the speaker elections last a week, so they wouldn’t vote until they meet again next Wednesday. However, the senate had a vote to suspend the bylaw for this election, which the 15 present senators all voted yes to.

The reasoning for voting for the new speaker immediately despite what the bylaws state, was because in order to vote the senate must meet quorum, a minimum of 15 senators present. 

With COVID-19 and a limited number of senators, Executive Vice President Payton Ade proposed to suspend the bylaw and vote now in the likely case the senate is unable to reach quorum next Wednesday.

Yusef was sworn in as speaker of the senate by Student Body President Jacqueline Williams.

Yusef is a part of the honors college, is secretary and treasurer of Latin American Student Organization, LASO, a part of a Newman Catholic Center group Amigos and Friends and is an event coordinator for the philosophy club.

Connor Mellott, a freshman senator who was appointed to the Internal Affairs Committee with Yusef, said Yusef was always willing to help and answer any questions he had about Internal Affairs.

Senator Billie Frazier said Yusef is responsible and would be good at the job of speaker.

Yusef has multiple plans as speaker, which will help the Student Senate be more involved on-campus and with other students.

The senate also appointed a new senator, Jade Moffett.

Moffett is studying emergency management and disaster preparedness under the public health major.

The senate is currently having Student Government Week and has events planned daily this week with only Thursday and Friday’s events left.

On Thursday, the event is Pop-a-shot with the Prez at the MLK Union Bridge Lounge from noon to 2 p.m. 

Pop-a-shot with the Prez includes a basketball machine, and students will be able to play with University President David Glassman.

Friday is a trivathon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MLK Union Bridge Lounge.

The senate meets weekly on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the 7th Street Underground in the Union.

Madelyn Kidd can be reached at 581-2812 or at mekidd@eiu.edu.