After previous Vice President Deaun Saxby graduated December 2021, ASW president and senior communication major Brendan Sudberry appointed Saxby’s successor.
This follows what is laid out in the ASW Constitution, Article VI, Section 4 which states, “should the office of the ASW Vice-President become permanently vacated, the ASW President will appoint a new Vice-President to fill the unexpired term.”
Sudberry said he began looking for a candidate to fill the vice president position in Nov. 2021 with the help of Saxby and the rest of the executive branch.
“I wanted someone where we had similar viewpoints on issues,” Sudberry said. “I needed someone that was going to be able to help really support and be passionate about those projects that are already underway.”
Sudberry said he appointed Gaeble Jones, a senior international business major.
Jones said she’s passionate about many of the current ASW goals in the statement of intent she gave to the senate before they voted on confirming her.
“I am passionate about gender equity and environmental sustainability,” Jones said. “I am really looking forward to assisting with projects [ASW] board members have underway.”
Jones said she was scared she wouldn’t get elected.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of ASW since my [first] year,” Jones said. “But when I was in middle school I ran for student council and I didn’t get in and it kind of scarred me. So I never applied again because I never thought I would get in.”
Binne Green Morris, the ASW speaker of the senate and junior justice studies major, said they appreciated ASW having some appointed positions for this reason.
“I think it really opens up the opportunities for students to come serve in ASW that might otherwise be intimidated by going through the campaigning and election process,” Green said. “I do appreciate that it kind of diversifies the outlets for students to be able to enter ASW.”
Green said there are many ASW positions that are appointed every year. The difference here is the vice president usually has to campaign, according to Green.
Oliver Anderson, director of student involvement and orientation and one of the advisors for ASW, said appointment was preferred over a special election for the vice president for a few reasons.
“An appointment process can move faster than an election process,” Anderson said in an email. “This helps fill a vacancy quickly to ensure the [vice president] responsibilities are maintained.”
Anderson said group cohesion is vital to maintain the goals and priorities of the ASW board at this point in the semester. Appointing a new vice president helps continue ASW’s momentum, according to Anderson.
Both Anderson and Green said the ASW senate serves as a role in keeping the appointment process fair and democratic.
“The president could nominate a [vice president] candidate, but the senate could reject the nomination and the process would have to repeat,” Anderson said. “This creates a check and balance across branches within ASW.”
Gaeble Jones, the ASW vice president and a senior international business major, said she feels pressure to fulfill her role well because of how she was inducted.
“I am very aware that I was appointed and not voted in, so that pushes me to want to do a better job and be able to prove myself,” Jones said. “I really only have three or four months in office, so that’s a very short time to make an impact. But I’m just going to be doing the best I can to really make an impression and a lasting impact.”
Brendan Sudberry, the ASW president and a senior communication major, also said he felt pressure to find a good fit for the vice president position.
“I definitely did feel pressure to choose who I thought was best for the students in as fair and equitable a way as possible.” Sudberry said. “I try to implement that diversity, equity and conclusion perspective at the core of the work. So I think that was really at the forefront of my mind through the selection process.”
Jones said she wants the student body to know, “I’m going to do the best I can with this position and I’m very excited for it. I might not have seen it coming, but now I’m prepared for it.”
