SGA appoints new senators and Diversity Chair in first meeting of the 2024-2025 year.

The Student Government Association held its first meeting for the 2024-2025 academic year on Sept. 9.

SGA President Lydia Pobst started off the evening’s reports by talking about her involvement with the presidential search committee and her role in helping fill SEMO President Dr. Carlos Vargas’ spot next school year.

“It’s 15 members on that committee,” Pobst said. “There’s people from the Board of Governors, members at large from the community, faculty and I am the only student... I will be the voice for the students in there.”

After the reports of the meeting were presented, the meeting moved on to New Senate Business, the first being to fill vacancies in First Year Student Positions.

The members of the SGA voted unanimously to appoint these members and were excited about the new group of Senators.

Pre-physician major Sydney Blackmon, Senator Representative from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, expressed her excitement for the newcomers.

“It’s nice to see a bunch of new faces,” Blackmon said. “I’ve been here for two years. We’ve seen people come, seen people go.”

The final order of business for the meeting was to appoint someone to the Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair. Senior cybersecurity major TJ Mukumba applied to fill this position.

“I chose to apply for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair because I feel like the voice of, specifically us internationals, has not been heard as much as it should be,” Mukumba said.

SGA voted unanimously for Mukumba to be the new Diversity and Inclusion Chair, marking the final vote for the evening.

SGA Vice President Grant Breece spoke highly of Mukumba.

“Because of his ideas and how confident he is in this position I think he will do a good job,” Breece said.

Mukumba’s plans as the new Diversity Chair include hosting an international potluck and pride parades, offering students new ways to get involved.