On March 21, 2025 on the steps of the Smith-Brown Student Union, surrounded by campaign teams, family, friends, and Southern University constituents, the anticipation and the crowd grew larger by the minute as polls closed at 5:00pm.
Cheers erupted in the Union Courtyard as the next members for the 2025-2026 new Student Government Association were announced.
“I was pleased, I just hope now that they’re going to do what they said they were going to do” Freshman Siniaya Harvey states. Many of the students feel the same way, with them having the hope that the new SGA cabinet can quote-un-quote “Do the work” and “Don’t flake out” on what they ran their campaigns on.
Election week had its fair share of ups and downs, with events such as a “ResLife Campaign Nite” where candidates showcased their platforms and students read and helped themselves “come to a clearer decision” on who to vote for, and Pretty Wednesday in the Union Courtyard where candidates could introduce themselves, and where students can see what the plan is for the positions that the candidates are running for.
The rest of the SGA results are as follows: College of Health Senator, Valerie Smalls, College of Business Senator, Chloe Haynes, College of Interdisciplinary Studies Senators, Brandon Lett and Caniya Dylan, College of Government and Social Science Senators Christina Holmes and Justin Thomas Jr., College of Science and Engineering Senator, Malin Shephard. College of Agricultural and Consumer Sciences Senator Connor Kitchen, Junior Justice, Samaya Joseph, Sophomore Class Vice President, London Coleman. Sophomore Class President, Armorie Hagans, Junior Class Vice President, Jaylin Christian. Junior Class President, Aliyah Beal, Senior Class Vice President, Jillian Patterson, Senior Class President, Yesenia McKee.
The results were presented at approximately 5:14pm and read by Elections Commissioner, A’Kira Tate. Those whom were not physically present had the opportunity to watch the Elections Results live virtually through the Office of Student Media’s instagram, @southernu_osm. Campaign teams and spectators grew silent as results were vastly read.
After each celebratory proceeding from the candidates, it’s the moment for Royal Court & SGA Vice President & President. During Spring Elections, the Southern University Royal Court is re-selected from all Class Queens to Miss Southern. Miss Freshman remains vacant until the Fall semester which is Fall 2025 during Fall Elections. Commissioner Tate continued with the winners of the Royal Court, Miss Sophomore, Armiracle Wilson (676), Miss Junior, Peyton Weatherspoon (351), Miss Senior, Jikaya Hart (535).
This Spring 2025, this very election had (5) qualified Miss Southern candidates; In order from least votes to highest – Jurniya Smith (141), Noelle Cloyd (202), Kaitlyn Clark (281), Auriyonnie Lopez (667), and Gala Marcus (1027). After several attempts to control the crowd due to confusion of the initial reading by Tate, the results were read were thoroughly read again whereas, The 95th Miss Southern University was victorious to first-time queen, Gala Marcus.
The Vice-President candidates resulted as; Samajh Robinson (925) & Bryman Williams (1380). The newly elected Vice-President for the 2025-2026 school year is, Bryman Williams, currently with a 3-0 campaign record.
Lastly, The SGA President candidates resulted as; Adekunle Ajayi (1135), & Sean Inman (1174), making your newly elected President for the 2025-2026 school year, Sean Inman, filling the seat of 2024-2025 SGA President, Kennedy Orr, whom made history as an female SGA President in over a decade.
