Each year nearing the end of the spring semester, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) hosts and runs elections so that when the next academic semester begins the USG can immediately begin their work.
Three key position members in the operation of student government were changed when this years USG began: president, vice president, and chief justice. Originally these positions were supposed to be assumed by returning UMass Boston students: Alexis Marvel, Kayla Worthey, and Sonia Wahome.
Marvel, a well-known leader in USG and former UMass Boston student trustee, wished her fellow undergraduate students well. On Aug. 21, she sent an email to several administrators and USG members, citing health and monetary concerns as her reason for quitting the position.
“Effective immediately,” she wrote, “I will no longer be president, and Kayla Worthey will now represent the student body in that role. I trust her completely and know she will excel in this role — her passion, experience, and expertise has always made her an extraordinarily capable leader. She and I will continue to be in constant communication to ensure that this transition is a smooth one, and I’m sure you will all hear from her shortly as she settles into her new position.
“As for myself, I will be scaling down to one online class for this semester, and will be returning to campus stronger than ever next spring. Just this week, I had the luck of being offered an incredible opportunity to work for a political consulting firm, which will allow me to afford to finish my education.”
Wahome also resigned her position by stating “It is unfortunate that I must inform you of my resignation as chief justice. I will not be enrolled in classes this upcoming semester; therefore it will be unconstitutional for me to serve in any Undergraduate Student Government positions.”
For the remainder of the year, leadership titles will now be held by: Worthey as president, Jose Martinez as vice president, and Lysha McDowell as chief justice.
Worthey, who was Marvel’s vice president, assumed the presidency automatically when Marvel quit. Worthey then reviewed a few vice presidency candidates and chose Martinez to be nominated for the position.
“Jose Martinez is a very passionate senator. And I look forward to having him alongside me as we both serve our fellow students here at UMass Boston” said Worthey.
Martinez told his fellow student government members “It has been a pleasure serving for Student Government for the past few years. Overall I’ve learned a little bit from each one of you and I think that each one of you has a quality I lack, and because of this I look forward to working with each one of you. I’m really excited for this year and thank you for your nomination and approval.”
McDowell was chosen for the chief justice position in part due to her seniority and experience. Her husband Dan McDowell, who recently graduated from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, was also involved in USG when he went to UMass Boston.
Undergraduate Student Government chooses new student body vice president, chief justice
Martinez, a former intern with the Governor’s Personnel Office, will be UMass Boston’s Undergraduate Student Government Vice President.
