St. John’s Student Government Inc. announced nine new freshman representatives who will each serve as agents to the different St. John’s colleges on Oct. 20.
Similar to sophomore, junior and senior representatives, each college will carry two freshman representatives, with the exception of one representative for the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions.
Each representative will act as an advocate to student concerns and ideas, as well as work with administrators and faculty. Along with acting as agents, the representatives have a voice in the voting process for new and upcoming organizations.
“As freshman, we’re looked at as the minority,” said Sam Marbella, freshman representative for the College of Professional Studies. “Our main goal is to get the student voice heard and help incorporate new tastes and organizations.”
Recently, freshman representatives voted in the ‘Power to (re)Organize’ presentations that resulted in 13 new student organization, including the Actuarial Club, the Irish Society and a Red Cross club.
SGI vice president Caroline Zottl believes the freshman representatives will make a solid addition to the student government team, and hopes their new titles will act as a slippery slope for further engagement at St. John’s.
“They gain a lot of investment in SGI,” she said. “Once they join in their first year, that helps foster their involvement at St. John’s.”
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences freshman representative Ceciliana Sturman aspires to target diversification in the St. John’s community.
“I’d like to focus on diversity and culture, while also investing time in leadership, service and mission work,” she said.
Sturman believes the missions of St. John’s are an important aspect of the community and should be held close to the heart.
Tobin College of Business freshman representative C. J. Martin trusts that his physical appearance played a large role in his election.
“I’m very handsome and wealthy,” he said jokingly.
In reality, Martin aims to meet a variety of students in order to represent their beliefs. “I’m here to represent and talk to the student body, so I can make their St. John’s experience better,” he said.
More than anything, Zottl is excited to see the freshman representatives immersed in their elected roles, so that their actions can influence the St. John’s student body.
“We want their involvement, to see them at events that they’re not originally mandated to go to,” she said. “We want to see them involved.”
