Taking a position: Campus election results

A new group of students has taken leadership positions on campus. Willie Eggleston was voted next year's SG president, defeating opponent John Sweeney. Other winners were Jessica Short for Programming Board president, Bethany Sharpless for InterResidence Hall Council president, Shadae Gates for Multicultural Student Coalition president, Nicholas Wierman for Off-Campus Council president and Cortny Sasserson for Commuter Council president. Here is some background about these students and what they hope to do with their positions.

SG President: Willie Eggleston

Year: Junior

Major: Pharmacy

Why he decided to run: "I really enjoyed having the chance to be on executive board this year and sort of stepping up and being kind of a voice to the students … and I think the position of president can help me do that to an even further degree."

Changes he would like to make: Eggleston would like to see more funding toward educational and professional services. "One of the big things we've noticed this year is more and more students are coming in for money for academic reasons," he said.

Also, he would like to see an improvement in communication with students, with options such as a forum in the Student Union Building, or a blog for suggestions or complaints.

"I feel like there's a big disconnect between students and administration, and I feel that's our job as the middlemen to take care of that, and I don't think we're doing the best job we can right now," he said.

Programming Board President: Jessica Short

Year: Sophomore

Major: Elementary education

Changes she would like to make: Short would like to develop smaller activities on campus scheduled for the weekend, so there is always something to do on campus. She also hopes to use local resources, such as small businesses in Wilkes-Barre, to get activity ideas.

In promoting these events, she would like to improve the usage of the Facebook page and other promotional tools. "Our weakness is sometimes getting information out fast enough and early enough for students to know," Short said.

Inter-Residence Hall Council: Bethany Sharpless

Year: Sophomore

Major: Pre-pharmacy

Changes she would like to make: Sharpless would like to expand IRHC participation among general board members, instead of just among executive board members, by getting them involved with voting and finances. "There is an untapped resource in our general board members, with a lot of creativity and interesting ideas for activities and programming we can put on with a low budget," she said.

She would also like to try to keep residents on campus and involved on the weekends.

Multicultural Student Coalition: Shadae Gates

Year: Junior

Major: Political science, criminology and international studies

Changes she would like to make: Gates would like to see more cooperation with other cultural clubs on campus.

"One of the weaknesses that we do have is that we don't work well with the other diversity clubs on campus … we can build better community with those clubs and open up better doors with communication," Gates said.

She would like to start an event called Challenge Day, which would show people that they may be different on the outside but they are the same inside.