The Clemson student body has spoken and Malik Balogun is the new Student Body President and Julia Blouin the Student Body Vice President.
Balogun and Blouin were met with a round of applause in the Carillon Garden on Friday after the results of the general election were shared, affirming that they will be the next to hold office within Clemson Undergraduate Student Government. The pair received 4037 votes, or 66.6 percent of votes cast.
“I am super excited to be able to serve the student body for the next year. I can’t wait to help Clemson achieve new heights and be the best student body president I can be,” said Balogun.
The official transition of power will take place in the coming weeks and Balogun is ready to hit the ground running.
“I think the first thing we want to get started on is this First Friday Festival,” said Balogun of the event to be planned for the first home football game in September. “We want to be able to work alongside the city of Clemson, CUSG, and Central Spirit to get things rolling.”
The First Friday Festival would be a new addition to the First Friday Parade, which would open downtown Clemson to all the organizations and community with the parade. The event hopes to bring local restaurants, live music and students together on College Ave, according to Balogun’s platform.
“I’m excited to get started with the First Friday Festival, but also supporting the projects that are hoping to end this semester,” said Bouin, echoing Balogun’s message and sharing some of her own goals. “I’m really hoping to dive into mental health, into parking, and I’m just hoping that everyone’s suggestions and all their ongoing platform ideas come into concrete plans for our experience.”
Will Reinert, departing student body president, will soon enter his lame duck period as the newly elected leaders transition into their new roles.
“What’s so unique about Clemson as a whole is that everything you do, it’s for the striving of leaving something behind better than yourself, and I know that if I’m leaving behind Malik Balagun and Julia Bouin, I’m leaving behind something that is a lot better than me,” said Reinert.
He went on to describe the pair as “incredible leaders that are action oriented,” as well as two outstanding people who are, “going to be great friends to every single Clemson student.”
Senate results were also announced, listed below. Additionally, Senate Bill 26 passed with 93.54% of the vote, and Senate Bill 30 passed with 94.29% of the vote. Both of these bills required a 2/3 vote from the student body to pass.
College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences: Kelsie Dean – 249 votes
College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities: Rachel Castellani – 308 votes
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences:
Douglas Chadmon – 821 votes
Kellan Fenegan – 564 votes
Scotty Moore – 498 votes
Leah Terry – 487 votes
Caroline Tyler – 429 votes
College of Business:
David Moore – 473 votes
Katelyn Terchick – 438 votes
Maximus Boscaglia – 400 votes
Paul Roy – 369 votes
Kathrine Bedard – 359 votes
Campbell Bossong – 342 votes
College of Education: Matthew Vlacich – 178 votes
College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences:
Min Shin – 321 votes
Jason Timberlake – 303 votes
Riley Wright – 264 votes
Sarah Miller – 264 votes
Harrison Langpaul – 255 votes
Ammi Zimmerman – 239 votes
Hayden Boatwright – 218 votes
College of Science:
Halee Lott – 517 votes
Shelby Mozingo – 464 votes
Lauren Simmons – 432 votes
Ruxi Xia – 336 votes
Senior Class:
Michael Anne Pace – 359 votes
Keillen Rico Espinoza – 231 votes
Felder Keener Fogle – 204 votes
Junior Class:
Shreya Tellur – 408 votes
Caroline Olivia Avinger – 317 votes
Riley Wasse – 269 votes
Sophomore Class:
Jorell Banks – 327 votes
Olivia Frazier – 319 votes
Daniel Moon – 294 votes
At-Large:
Caroline O’Neal – 237 votes
Taylor Uremovich – 227 votes
Abby Szlosek – 222 votes
Raleigh Adams – 208 votes
Samuel Butler Brandes – 192 votes
Jarrett Holman – 178 votes
Emily Cope – 175 votes
Elizabeth Zarrilli – 171 votes
Hannah Rizik – 170 votes
Hayley Levin – 166 votes
Dodson Wood – 155 votes
Lizzie Chiarovano – 145 votes
Benjamin Matthew Bone – 140 votes
Tucker Ann Norris – 139 votes
Charles Harland Prunkl – 136 votes
Victor Kupec – 124 votes
Alexander Sauer – 121 votes
Cason Smith – 121 votes
Hannah Gertz – 120 votes
Trevor Canaday – 118 votes
Senate Executive Officers:
President – Thomas Newell
President Pro-Tempore – Sidney Smith
Secretary – Amanda Murray
Clerk – A.J. Ilardi
David Ferrara, Editor-in-Chief contributed to the reporting of this story.
