The 111th administration of the Associated Students of Wyoming (ASUW) held the first meeting of its term on the final Tuesday meeting of the school year. The 21 new and returning senators focused this meeting on voting in their head table positions.
The meeting began with voting on the position of President Pro Tempore, who will serve as the Vice President’s assistant, help with lists, count votes, and carry out meetings if the VP cannot make it.
Senator Tanner Ewalt was elected into the role after being nominated by both Senator Rhiannon McLean and Senator Ven Meester.
“Tanner is actually the second most senior member of the legislative branch,” McLean said in her nomination speech. “When choosing a President Pro Tempore, you want someone who’s reliable, and I think Tanner is one of the most reliable members of this body, given his track record and I think Tanner will make an incredible President Pro Tempore.”
After Ewalt moved from his senate seat to the head table, voting for the Parliamentarian began. The Parliamentarian seat was awarded to Senator McLean. Going forward, she will be tasked with ensuring all of the meetings follow both the ASUW bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order.
“I think Senator McLean represents a certain quality of person beyond just the actual tangible skills that it takes to be parliamentarian,” said Senator Aidan McGuire in his nomination speech.
“She has shown herself to be an individual who can turn weakness into strength, fear into courage, conflict into resolution, and failure into success. And I cannot think of a better type of person to sit at the head table.”
Next, the 111th administration voted in Senator Cord Anderson to be the Sergeant at Arms. He will serve as the Parliamentarian in McLean’s absence and will be in charge of maintaining order in the meetings as well as recording them.
Senator Paden Knull nominated Anderson. Knull said, “There’s quite the possibility we will meet both the strong, resolute form that is Senator Anderson. As well as the common welcoming friendship around him. And so, with that in mind, especially including the years of service post, the military, and the senatorial body we have here, I can think of no better candidate for this position.”
Finally, Senator Peri Hennigar was elected to read the roll call, mission statement, land acknowledgment, and legislation in their new position as Marshal.
“Senator Hennigar hit the ground hard, and they got as involved as possible. I’ve never seen anyone as dedicated as they are to Senate and to the people they work with,” Senator Anderson said in his nomination speech. “I think that Senator Hennigar will be the best person to work as Marshal because they care about what they’re doing, and they care about the people they work with. And if they don’t end up at the head table, that would be a disservice to ASUW.”
Also at the head table will be Vice President Jessica Petri, who will be joining the administration in person over the summer after she returns from studying abroad in Pamplona, Spain.
