WSU Topics: SGA president

Shelby Rowell, who was elected as vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA) in 2018, has been named SGA president. She replaces Kenon Brinkley, who resigned Wednesday, Feb 13. Acting Wichita State president Richard Muma and the executive team are supportive of the SGA, and the university administration expects to work closely with Rowell moving forward.

In a statement Wednesday, the SGA said:

Fellow Shockers,

As of 9:50 a.m. on February 13, 2019, Kenon Brinkley resigned his position as President of the Wichita State University Student Government Association. Below is Brinkley’s written resignation:

“To whom it may concern:

“Please allow this letter to serve as my formal resignation from the position as President of The Wichita State University Student Government Association. I care about this university dearly, and have been honored to serve, but with a heavy heart I feel it is best for everyone involved for Student Government and I to part ways.

“I wish luck and healing to all.”

Per the succession clause of the SGA Journal, current Vice President Shelby Rowell will be sworn into the role of 61st Session President. Current Chief of Operations Matthew Madden will be sworn into the role of Interim 61st Session Vice President. The position of Chief of Operations will remain vacant throughout the rest of the session.

Rowell and Madden will be sworn in at the twenty-first meeting of the Student Government Association Senate at 6:30 p.m. this evening in Rhatigan Student Center room 233.

Future Senate meetings of the 61st Session will begin at 7:00 p.m. every Wednesday in RSC 233 due to a conflict with Acting Vice President Madden’s class schedule.

The Student Advocate will host open discussions about campus resources for sexual assault from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on February 19 in RSC 203, and from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on February 27 in RSC 264. All are welcome to attend.

We appreciate your patience throughout this process.

Background

On Feb. 10, the SGA released the following information:

Fellow Shockers,

The Student Government Association Cabinet is aware of an article published during the evening of Sunday, February 10 on Medium.com, alleging that the SGA President sexually assaulted the author.

The Cabinet will be meeting throughout the next few days to discuss how we will address the allegations. The Student Advocate, in conjunction with campus partners, will host open discussions in the coming weeks to speak about how to better address sexual misconduct as a University.

The Cabinet is aware of the severity of sexual assault, and we are committed to supporting resources for survivors, and ensuring due process for alleged perpetrators. Sexual assault cases are among the toughest and most complicated issues universities face.

Section 8.16 of Wichita State University’s Policies and Procedures states that “sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking are prohibited behaviors”. The Cabinet supports the University’s mission to provide an environment which curtails any detriment to students’ learning experiences

In the fall of 2018, SGA unanimously passed R-61-004: Solidarity with Survivors, in which the Association made a commitment to stand in solidarity with victims of sexual violence and to encourage them to utilize university resources. This is a commitment we will continue to honor as we move forward.

Students should feel that their university addresses sexual misconduct cases with the utmost care and seriousness. No student should be discouraged from making reports and seeking justice. Wichita State has dedicated professionals to serve students in these cases, including the Counseling and Testing Center, the CARE Team, and Student Health Services. Any cases of sexual misconduct can be reported to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, and we encourage students to reach out in person, via phone, or fill out an online form.

The Student Government Association always seeks to place students first and works to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. The Cabinet will keep you informed as we work to address this issue.

Teri Hall, vice president of WSU Student Affairs, released the following statement on Feb. 10:

"We appreciate and support the statement of the SGA cabinet. It reflects the values and commitment of the university to create a robust campus environment free from sexual violence, harassment and discrimination. Our first concern is the safety and well-being of individuals impacted."

The information on this page is accurate as of Feb. 13, 2019.  Comment on this topic.