Election events are an integral part of any national convention, and this year did not disappoint. For a few days of July under the humid Atlanta sun, Emory’s campus was filled with yard signs and chalk drawings, while building walls were decorated with flyers and posters, as JCLers came together to vote for their next national officers, amid academic testing, dancing, and losing their voices from spirit.
With both ends of gavel order having states of emergency, the Nominations Committee meeting proceeded in an untraditional order. Up first, the office of Communications Coordinator with Lilia AitSahlia of Florida and Mackenzie Sanford of Virginia as the two prefiled candidates. Next, the officer of Historian, which had three prefiled candidates: Trisha Iyer of California, Sloane Wehman of Maryland, and Luke Montzka of Illinois. Of the three, Trisha Iyer and Sloane Wehman received nominations. The office of parliamentarian also had three prefiled candidates: Alden Okoh-Aduako of South Carolina, Rishi Gurudaven of New Hampshire, and Daniel Lee of Georgia, of which Alden Okoh-Aduako and Rishi Gurudaven were voted to proceed.
Moving on to the offices with States of Emergency. Jenny Chen of Massachusetts was the only prefiled candidate for the office of editor, and no candidates were nominated from the floor. With also one prefiled candidate, the office of Second Vice President was also in a State of Emergency. Natalie Allen of Ohio was the sole nominee, until Callista Kayatta of Texas was nominated from the floor. Similar to the office of Second Vice President, the office of First Vice President also had one prefiled candidate: Sophie Heitfield of the District of Columbia, and one candidate nominated from the floor: Logan Goulas of Alabama. Finally, for the office of President, Krish Sharma of Wisconsin was the lone candidate, and there were no nominations from the floor. With the number of candidates finalized, thus began the time to campaign.