Called to lead

Though there is still no word on who will be the next SGA president and vice president, the student senate leaders were elected at Monday night’s weekly senate meeting.

Michael Morton, 20, and Roshelle Rosemond will be the senate’s leaders of the 33rd student senate for the 2003-2004 school year, filling the shoes of current senate president Aziza Bowser and pro-tempore Audrey Rodgers, respectively.

Morton, a second year mechanical engineering student from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., ran uncontested and won 94 percent of the senate vote. He said he was honored and optimistic about the opportunity to serve the students at FAMU.

“I want to thank the senate for believing in me and entrusting me as a caretaker of student government,” Morton said

He added that his tenure, with the help of the senate, “is the beginning of a new wave of leadership.”

Morton’s platform included the creation of a more student-friendly student government. He also said he would work diligently to implement a more efficient means of attaining activity and service funds from the university, adding that the money belongs to the students, not the university.

“I will keep fire to foot to those who oversee these funds,” Morton said. “If I have to go to those respective offices 20 times a day, get students to go with me or get an attorney, I will.”

Roshelle Rosemond, a third year business administration student also from Fort Lauderdale, received 54 percent of the senate vote for the position of senate pro-tempore.

Rosemond’s platform included senatorial training, internal development, revision of election codes and an improved legislative watch.

Both Morton and Rosemond said they want to be more visible to the student body and eliminate the “elite attitude” stigma of the student government.

Senate president Aziza Bowser expressed approval in the new leaders.

“I feel confident that I am leaving the senate in good hands,” Bowser said.

Marvin Wilmoth, a graduate senator, said that next year’s senate will be different from most recent senates.

“It will bring a softer, more comfortable and friendlier feel to the senate that may not have been there in the past.”

Tracy D. Wright can be reached at tracydwright@hotmail.com.