The student senate elected a new speaker and speaker pro-tempore around midnight Wednesday at the senate meeting following the resignation of Speaker Evan Bergeron. Ashley Martin, biological sciences senior and former speaker pro-tempore, was elected speaker, and Graduate Sen. Neal Hebert was elected the new speaker pro-tempore. Bergeron resigned following criticism he received concerning his use of an Student Government-funded Blackberry phone. “I’m really excited,” Martin said. “I feel like I’m the leader they need right now. I’m very non-controversial.” Martin, arts and sciences senator, was endorsed by Bergeron. “I put my full faith in Sen. Martin that she can carry on what I started,” Bergeron said. Martin, a three-year veteran of SG, was vice chairman of the athletics, academics and administration committee. Martin, who plans to attend medical school next spring, said she is very organized and a hard worker. “I’m by-the-book about things and that’s how I plan on running things,” Martin said. Hebert also said he is looking forward to serving students. “It’s a privilege to be up here helping people out,” Hebert said. “We are servants and what matters is we are here for the students.” Hebert, a graduate student working on his masters degree, said this is his fifth year in SG. Hebert, former chairman of the housing committee and students rights and welfare committee, said he has several duties to fulfill in his new position. “First to run this office and to serve as chairman at the discretion of the speaker,” Hebert said. “I am essentially still a senator though, and it’s my responsibility to drum up support.” Some senators said they were pleased with the results of the elections. “I think we are really excited about the speaker and speaker pro-temp now that all of the animosity is over with and now we can push forward to help do our job,” said Warren Quirett, arts and sciences senator. “It’s our job to represent.” Quirett said he respects Bergeron’s decision to step down from the student senate speaker position. “I respect Speaker Bergeron for stepping down from the sspeaker position,” Quirett said. “I think he did it out of respect not only the position as well as the student body.” Three people were nominated for the speaker pro-tempore position, and Martin ran unopposed. “I love that we directly affect the students,” Martin said. “[The senate], it’s the branch that’s alive.”
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