Election results await SGA Supreme Court decision

At the Student Government Association (SGA) senate meeting held on Friday, March 31, 2023, in DeKalb, Illinois, Sergeant-at-Arms Niko Bereolos made an announcement regarding the ongoing SGA elections. He informed the senators and those present in the room that the results of the elections would not be released until all pending appeals have been reviewed and rulings handed down by the SGA Supreme Court.

Currently, there are two appeals under consideration by the Supreme Court. The first appeal was filed by a candidate contesting the validity of some of the signatures on their opponent's petition. The second appeal pertains to a dispute over campaign finance reporting. The Supreme Court has accepted both appeals and is in the process of reviewing the evidence and arguments presented by both parties.

President Olivia Newman of the SGA attempted to make appointments to fill two vacant seats on the SGA Supreme Court during the same meeting. She nominated Sharrell McNeal, a junior nursing major, and Ashanti Ford, a junior sports management major, for the positions. The nominations were made in accordance with the SGA bylaws, which allow the president to make appointments to fill vacancies on the court with the approval of a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.

However, Speaker Cole Hensley cautioned that the earliest the Supreme Court could potentially meet to rule on the appeals and make a decision on the nominations would be Monday, April 3, 2023. This means that the SGA election results may not be released until after this date, as the court's decisions on the appeals could impact the outcome of the elections.

In summary, the SGA elections in DeKalb, Illinois, are currently on hold as two appeals are being considered by the SGA Supreme Court. President Newman has nominated two individuals for vacant seats on the court, but their appointments cannot be officially made until after the court has rendered its decisions on the appeals. The earliest the court is expected to meet is Monday, April 3, 2023.