College-Appointed Student Senators: Who are they and how did they get there?

Aleanna Siacon
Oct 22, 2015
3 min read

The Student Senate at Wayne State University serves as the formal representation of the student body in the eyes of our administration. They are our voices, they motion for a real change in our name, and they discuss hot-button topics in defense of our welfare. Can you name your student senators?

Aside from the Executive Board, the Student Senate also consists of two kinds of representatives. Members-at-large are elected by Wayne State students while each college-appointed representative is placed on the Senate through individual processes within their respective schools.

“It’s nice knowing that there is an organized body for student concerns and that people care, but I don’t even know what a college-appointed senator is. If it was advertised better and given more publicity, more people would know what they are and how they do things,” said Michael Marek, a senior majoring in criminal justice.

Some schools have their own councils and internal systems from which their college appointed senator is derived. However, college appointed senators from the School of Social Work, the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts, the School of Business, the School of Education, and the Honors College are solely decided upon by administration based on their merits and repertoire.

As a result of these differences in appointment processes, some college appointed senators have closer relationships with the students they represent than others. For example, Aaron Szpytman, college-appointed senator of the College of Engineering, was chosen by the Engineering Student Faculty Board and the engineering student organizations and Krista Reeves of the College of Nursing was decided upon by the College of Nursing Council.

“I do know a lot of students at the College of Engineering, and they do know that I’m a Student Senator… I take classes in mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering, so I know a lot of the students through just having classes with them. I also work in a research lab, so I work with a lot of graduate students. I’ve also worked at the Wayne State Call Center, so I’ve talked to a lot of Engineering alumni,” said Szpytman.

All college-appointed student senators have voiced a genuine desire to get to know the students they speak for, in spite of the way they came into office.

“I am constantly trying to learn how I can best represent this college and its amazing students,” said Mohammed Ibrahim, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Senator.

Arielle Martin, Student Senator for the Honors College, tries to maintain a close relationship with the students she represents, but she said she does believe that there could be more marketing and outreach to ensure students are aware she is their representative. Martin said she wants students to know that she is approachable and that she takes pride in getting to know them.

Although he did not undergo a formal election process, newly-appointed School of Business Senator, Kristian Wright said he is extremely passionate about his position and his desire to get to know the students of his college better, “I’ve always wanted to be on the Student Senate… I was thirsty for it, so I jumped on it,” he said.

Soon, he plans to send out email blasts to the students within the school of business, encouraging them to seek him out at a designated location. He would like to introduce himself and discuss any concerns business students may have.

“I feel that I am there for them… I will go beyond what I need to do, to get people’s voices heard,” said Wright.

Keep an eye out for the next Student Senate. If you would like to get in touch with your college-appointed student senator to voice any of your existing concerns, you can contact them through the following channels:

Shaikh Ahmed, School of Education: shaikh.ahmed@wayne.edu
Angelique Harrison, CFPCA: cq1261@wayne.edu
Mohammed Ibrahim, EACPHS: ej1256@wayne.edu
Arielle Martine, Honors College: ariellemartin@wayne.edu
Krista Reeves, Nursing College: fb3761@wayne.edu
Look for her updates on the class Facebook and emails via the Office of Student Affairs
Mohamed Salim, School of Medicine: msalim@med.wayne.edu
Keely Sopko, School of Social Work: fn8459@wayne.edu
Aaron Szpytman, School of Engineering: fh5098@wayne.edu
Kristian Wright, School of Business: kristian.wright@wayne.edu