Junior intervention specialist major Madison Staton was elected Student Senate President as of Feb. 24 for the 2022-2023 school year. She will assume office in April.
Student Senate President-elect Madison Staton. Photo by Olivia Daugherty
Staton said she felt students were not being represented in the senate and wanted to run to help bridge the gap between students and faculty and administrators.
“Right now, there’s six people in Student Senate,” said Staton. “I feel like the involvement needs to be better.”
Her plans as president are to capitalize on the senate committees to help create greater connections on campus. Each member of the Student Senate is on a different committee, focusing on a different aspect of the university culture. Staton wants to create greater communication about the committees to get students more involved.
Staton’s vice-president is junior exercise science major Haley Byrnes. Staton and Byrnes both were on the basketball team and quit for the same reason—to focus on mental wellbeing.
Madison Staton speaking at the Student Senate Presidential debate. Photo by Olivia Daugherty.
“She’ll have some insight I might not have,” said Staton. “She went to a bigger school, she is a part of a minority, which I am not. We will help balance each other out. She’ll help give me ideas and be honest with me.”
Staton and Byrnes want to bring a greater focus on creating resources for athletes and mental health.
“The reason we both walked away from our sport was because of our mental health,” said Staton. “However, there might be athletes who are going through the same thing who are still in their sport. Being a student athlete while in college is hard and they need to know that they can get through it, even if they need to get help from others.”
Student Senate advisor Holly Metzger finds importance in having the student body know who is representing them. She said the debate’s purpose was to allow students to hear directly from the candidates.
Student Senate Advisor Holly Metzger. Photo by Olivia Daugherty.
“I think students want to vote for a president where they feel like their voices will be heard and they think they can be well-represented,” said Metzger.
Staton wants students to know they can come to Senate meetings to discuss their issues.
“When there is an issue, I want students to feel like they can come to a meeting and be able to speak their opinions and know their voices are being heard,” said Staton. “While things may not happen right away because there is a process, I can take it further and we can talk about it in Senate. You will be heard.”
