The newly elected Student Assocition candidates took their oaths of office on Friday during their inauguration ceremony.

Those sworn in as the new executive staff were President Robert Sorsby, Vice President Erik Calmeyer, Treasurer Abiola Akinyemi and Student Trustee Matthew Venaas.

The ceremony took place in Holmes Student Center Sky Room with about 60 people attending, including friends and family of the executives as well as co-workers and NIU staff.

Former SA President Brent Keller spoke at the ceremony recognizing the new staff, while recalling memories of how he came to participate in SA and thanking those who had helped him along the way.

“Thank you for the memories, and I can’t wait to see what the SA executive board holds for next year,” Keller said. Quoting his favorite president, Richard Nixon, Keller added, “Once you slip into the grand stream of history, you can’t get out.”

Among others who spoke at the ceremony, were NIU staff including Angie Dreessen, director of student involvement & leadership development, Faculty Senate President Paul Stoddard and NIU President John Peters.

“We are in desperate need of good, courageous, ethical leadership in a time when fewer people are willing to be put into the spotlight,” Peters said. “It’s hard to be criticized for something when you know in your heart it’s right, especially when the criticizer doesn’t have all the facts right.”

In his acceptance speech, Sorsby outlined his plans as SA President. He said he looks to maximize student experience on campus, and launch SA into the forefront of the campus and create initiatives to interact with students on a personal level.

SA is responsible for giving official recognition to student organizations on campus, allocating funds to those organizations and managing the Huskie Bus Line. This year, the SA allocated $1.6 million from student fees.

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