New senate looks to empower students

by Alycia Lape

lapeal@mnstate.edu

Minnesota State University Moorhead has elected a new Student Body President and Vice President.

The recognized voice of the MSUM’s student body, Student Senate acts as an advocate for students. They relay information to administration and the local, state and federal government.

Coming from Pinole, California, President Sean Duckworth, a political science major, served on Senate as the Legislative and Internal Affairs Chair before being elected president at the end of last semester.

Duckworth explained that Student Senate is a learning opportunity for its members.

“There is a lot of responsibility to be involved in this, but I’m adapting,” Duckworth said.

He hopes to get more active on campus this year,  helping out other campus organizations and becoming more engaged with students.

“There are a lot of different opportunities to get involved, and there are a lot of areas where students have no voice,” Duckworth said. “I want to change that.”

He also wants to make Student Senate a place students feel comfortable going to with problems.

“MSUM is about pushing your boundaries, and it will,” he said.

Vice President Megan Parks, originally from Walker, Minnesota, is also majoring in political science. Much like Duckworth, Parks has a history with Student Senate, having served as secretary prior to being elected vice president.

There are changes coming, and she says that is one of the biggest challenges.

“Some people are averse to change, but we are planning on shaking things up this year and I am anticipating that this may receive some criticism. However, I don’t see this as a negative, I see it as a sign that people care enough to question things and I look forward to those conversations,” she said.

Both Duckworth and Parks agree that they need to create an empowering environment on campus.

“As a senate, we are here to represent the interests of the students and advocate on their behalf; but giving students the means and opportunities to do those things for themselves is a really awesome thing.”

Meetings take place every Thursday at 6 p.m. in CMU 205, and are open to all students.

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