On October 8, 2024 the Student Senate elections for interested first-year students opened up to all Stockton students. At noon, Senate promoted the open polls on OspreyHub and students were encouraged to nominate five new senators. Candidates had 48 hours to campaign and promote the election; then on October 10, the polls closed come noon and candidates who were elected started the beginning of their Senate career.

According to current Student Senate President, Andrea Sandoval, the following candidates were elected this semester: Jaala Howard for Student Affairs, Paul Onyemakonor for Academic Affairs, Mia Torres for Governmental Affairs, Jèsus Cabellos for Public Relations, and Najmah Laing for Diversity and Inclusion.

Najmah Laing is a first-year student at Stockton, and was newly sworn-in onto the Diversity and Inclusion committee on Senate. When asked what her plans for Senate, Laing expressed that she is excited to work with diverse student organizations around campus. Laing also touched upon a concern that has already risen for the Diversity and Inclusion committee: “MSA [the Muslim Student Association] proposed an idea that they have a bigger and separate prayer room, because the one we have now is kind of small and it’s for every organization.” Laing stated, “I’m excited to work with that and see what we can do.”

A big congratulations are in order for the newly inducted senators of the Student Senate. The five previously mentioned were sworn in during Senate’s last public meeting on October 29. Stay tuned for the upcoming 2025-2026 Senate election that will be held in Spring 2025.