Former Black Student Affairs Senator Kiandra Martin was sworn in as Student Senate’s vice president for the 2024-25 academic year during a special session Monday.
Martin was nominated for the vice president position alongside SAC Commissioner Luke Vannus and Environmental Affairs Commissioner Cynthia Jimenez, Senate President Dan Gordillo said.
Martin and Vannus accepted their nominations; however, Jimenez accepted the nomination at first but rescinded soon after, Gordillo said.
The two nominees were then called to the center of the room to answer questions from senate members, Gordillo said.
Martin spoke to the senate about her leadership experiences within other student organizations, such as the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, Gordillo said.
After nominees finished answering questions, there was a motion to vote on which nominee would fulfill the vice president position. The vote was done in the same order the candidates were nominated with Martin being first.
Martin won with an 8-6 vote for the vice president position.
Gordillo abstained from voting because the president isn’t a voting member, he said. Treasurer Johnny Susany could have voted; however, the pair decided it would be best if they abstained from the vote.
“We want to ensure that the body chose, not the executive officers, chose their vice president,” Gordillo said. “This is obviously somebody that we're going to have to work very closely with, but we need to make sure that the body wants their person, and that we do not meddle with that at all.”
Gordillo said Martin is dedicated and passionate about the Senate, which is what he needs in a vice president.
Gordillo said he was happy Martin got it and was shocked by the results.
“It was happiness because somebody who was dedicated got the job. It was also shocking because of how close that vote was,” Gordillo said. “It just goes to show that the body took this very seriously.”
