The Eastern Illinois University Student Senate held an unofficial meeting for student government candidate positions in the University Ballroom on Wednesday.
The election period is from March 30 at 8 a.m. to March 31 at 11:59 p.m., and voting is done via Panthermail. There are five executive positions within the student government association up for vote: student body president, executive vice president, vice president of student affairs, vice president of academic affairs and student trustee.
Current EVP Mason Tegeler is running unopposed for SBP. The student body president is the “chief executive officer” of the students of Eastern, and the SBP oversees the other executive positions, according to the SGA constitution.
Previously, Tegeler served as VPSA for the 2024-25 school year. He was appointed as Parliamentarian this year and was later appointed to EVP due to a vacancy.
“I’m running for student body president because I see an opportunity to better our campus for every student that currently walks our campus and all those that will come after us,” Tegeler said.
Tegeler said his priorities as SBP would be community and support.
He said he wants to have a concert during Welcome Weekend and First Night to highlight student artists and musicians.
“This event will showcase the diversity of talents and skills that students on this campus can offer,” Tegeler said.
Tegler also said he wanted to create an event called “SGA on Tour,” where members of the student government go to different registered student organizations to find ways to work with them and get feedback.
Continuing the relationship between SGA and fraternity and sorority life is another priority of Tegeler’s with events that raise awareness for mental health and sexual assault.
In addition, he wants to allow for more flexibility in academics for students in crisis while improving mental health resources.
“If we are to improve EIU, we must put in the work to build relationships across our campus and turn those student ideas into action,” Tegeler said. “I plan to dedicate my time as president to addressing the issues that EIU students are facing, but I can’t do that alone.”
Tegeler said he views SBP as the “most important advocate” for students.
“I vow to you to be the most annoying and persistent thorn in the side of anyone standing in the way of making this campus a better place,” he said.
EVP is the only position contested, with current SBP Claire Weber and Parliamentarian Sam Erwin running. The executive vice president is the “chief public affairs officer” and “chief business affairs officer” for EIU students, according to the SGA constitution.
SBP Weber has served as chair of the diversity affairs committee during her time as a student senator and was elected as the VPSA for the 2025-26 school year before assuming the SBP role when it became vacant.
She was selected as the SGA representative for the Conference of Student Government Associations in April. Outside of SGA, she is co-director of the EIU Dancers.
She said her top priority as EVP would be Student Lobbying Day and trying to have more than just one as well as joint lobbying days with other student political action teams.
For that, Weber said she wants to make sure Student Action Team members are “equipped” as soon as school starts, meaning bi-weekly classes to help prepare students on how to effectively lobby, and expand the team to more members outside SGA.
She said if students are more informed, they will be more likely to join, so she wants to host forums about issues.
“My biggest concern is that students on this campus are not being educated on the issues our university and state face,” Weber said.
With advocacy, Weber said she wants to help students with issues they may have, specifically for students with disabilities and getting dancers at EIU adequate places to practice.
Erwin has previously served as a student senator on the business affairs committees. Outside of SGA, Erwin is a resident assistant and president of the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honors Society.
As EVP, Erwin said he wants to help students understand how to get involved with the university’s policymaking process and create clear communication between SGA and the student body.
“Students need to know that they have a real chance to spread their opinions,” Erwin said.
Erwin said he wants to create more common and structured community outreach from SGA.
“This means going into residence halls, showing up in an organization meeting [and] making sure students who are not already tuned in to what SGA is doing know that this organization exists,” he said.
One of the duties of EVP is leading the Student Action Team, an organization focused on political action. Erwin said he wants to make sure they are structured and prepared ahead of the Student Lobbying Day in Springfield.
“I’ve been doing this work on campus. I know this campus. I know this organization, and I’m ready to continue the responsibility,” Erwin said.
Both candidates said they are committed to coming back as a student senator if not elected.
Elected senator Valerie Harmon is running unopposed for VPSA. She has previously served as the chair of the student affairs committees, which she was appointed to after only her first week. She is in that position still.
The vice president of student affairs is called the “chief student affairs officer” in the SGA constitution and oversees the creation, assistance, funding and promotion of registered student organizations.
Harmon said she wants to rework what was formerly DEI Week by introducing a sensory-friendly game night focusing on cultural backgrounds and those with disabilities to create a safe environment and a way for people to feel welcomed.
She also said she wants to restructure the RSO grant funding program to make it more efficient.
“These are what keep people coming back to campus,” Harmon said. “It’s not just solely about academics.”
VPAA will be a vacant position. The vice president of academic affairs is the “chief academic officer” for the student body, meaning they assist in the policy around academics, according to the SGA constitution.
Next school year, a person will be appointed to the position by the Senate after platform statements.
Two current senators are running for elected senator. The elected senator position is for senators who are ending their first term.
The first is senator Elaine Carman Loveless, a member of the community engagement committee. Outside of SGA, she is the VP of programming for Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.
She said for next year she wants to make students feel safe and heard.
Senator Kim Castillo is the other senator running for election, and she is running because she wants to support students and hear their concerns.
Ideas she had for the position included events to help with students’ academics.
Both candidates if elected would be eligible for speaker of the Senate, and both said they would want the position if nominated.
Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
