After a significant amount of time and campaigning, Andrew Manno, new student body president, was sworn in on April 15 after the online elections on April 3 and 4.

“You have to run as a ticket, which means you have to pick a ticket name, and choose a vice president and an executive director to run with,” Manno explained.

“You have to go to an information meeting that is set up by the Student Election Commission and fill out paper work in order to be on the ballot,” he added.

According to John Davenport, associate dean of students and SGA faculty advisor, Manno will uphold former SGA president’s responsibilities.

“The student body president is the student face to the university and is involved on any matters that concern students,” Manno said.         “Being the elected leader of the student body, it is my responsibility to ensure that the students are looked after and that the best interests of the students are in mind when creating policy,” he added.

Aside from these responsibilities, the president must abide by a list of bylaws, as well as perform any other tasks that are assigned, Manno added.

As president, Manno said he ran on three pillars: school spirit, outreach, and tradition. His hopes are for students to gain more school spirit in the coming year, come to him or the SGA for help, know that the students are being looked after, and to maintain school tradition.

Nehemiah Chung, student body vice president, and Jennie Paxton, student body executive director, are an effective benefit towards Manno.

Chung’s duties include training freshmen and transfers who want to emerge into leaders and flourish, and become involved in different opportunities around campus. He also assists in choosing committee assignments and any other tasks Manno may perform, Manno explained.

Paxton helps with all the financial aspects. She is in charge of the Executive Cabinet and any other designated tasks from Manno, he added.

Aside from being the SGA faculty advisor, Davenport is a substantial benefit to Manno in a few ways.

“My role is to advise the Student Government Association by providing support and serving as a sounding board for new ideas, initiatives, and collaborations while helping assist the members at maintaining proper school/SGA work balance,” Davenport said. “I regularly meet with SGA members individually as well as meet with the Legislative and Executive branches collectively.”

The SGA provides programs and services for the student body to bring students closer together and serve as the voice of ISU students, Davenport said.

SGA positions are open to all ISU students who are in good academic standing and are in good standing with the office of Community Rights & Responsibilities. Some positions do look at GPA’s as well, Davenport explained.

Meetings are held bi-weekly and anyone can attend, Davenport added.

For more information on the SGA, visit sga.illinoisstate.edu/.