The EIU Student Senate appointed three people to fill vacant executive board positions at its meeting on Wednesday. 

 The positions of executive vice president, vice president of academic affairs and vice president of student affairs had been vacant since Sept. 24, following the resignation of three members of the executive board. Claire Weber, the VPSA at the time, assumed the role of student body president to start the process of filling the roles. 

 The candidates for the vacant positions presented their platforms last week and needed a two-thirds majority vote to get the role. 

 The only contested position was VPSA, which resulted in a vote between the two candidates with only a simple majority required to advance.  

Former Senator Katarina Maxson received 13 votes in favor while the other candidate, senior political science major Leyana Keener, received one vote. There was one vote of no confidence.  

Former Parliamentarian Mason Tegeler was appointed to EVP with 15 votes in favor and zero in no confidence.  

Former Senator Emilee Boyd was appointed with 14 votes in favor and one vote in no confidence. 

The Student Senate heard speeches from students about the layoff of education professor Brianne Eads. On Tuesday, the university announced that it would not be renewing her contract. Eads is in her third year at Eastern. 

“Mrs. Eads’ contract needs to be reinstated for the good of the college,” graduate student and reading instruction major Lexie Coartney said. “If EIU prides itself on the teachers the program creates, it will no longer be able to do this if Mrs. Eads is not reinstated.” 

According to early childhood education major Kierstin Rosine, Eads places 350 students in practicum experience each year, including 163 students this semester. Rosine said that this is due to connections that Eads has with schools.  

“She has done more for the program in her time here than some have in their whole career,” Rosine said. 

Rosine said that Eads was also instrumental in helping students in the online master’s program with Zoom and phone calls. 

“Without her, I am sure many students would not be able to pass these classes,” Rosine said. “I urge EIU to reconsider this decision. If not, the teaching department will suffer greatly.” 

 Senior elementary education major Josh Doty spoke on Eads’ commitment to students and her ability to help them understand the coursework. 

 “She is the embodiment of what makes a great professor and educator,” Doty said. “She is not only an educator, but someone who wants to connect with her students and be there in any way that she can.” 

 He said that many in the education department are upset at the announcement that Eads’ contract will not be renewed.  

 “We are all shocked, frustrated and downright disappointed at the university,” Doty said. “You will not find a better educator across this campus.” 

 An executive opinion authored by SBP Weber was read aloud at the meeting.  

 Weber wrote that she gave her thoughts and well wishes to the staff affected by the layoffs and non-renewals. Weber also wrote that she had talked to students who felt upset about layoffs.  

 “While I hold on to an understanding of how important it is to preserve our funding and wellbeing as an institution, I still hold a sense of frustration and empathy,” Weber wrote. 

 Weber reiterated her condolences and offered the help of the Student Government to those who wanted it. 

Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].