Adam Clampitt-Dietrich was elected president of student senate for the 2009-10 academic year at the regular Associated Student Government (ASG) senate meeting Tuesday evening.
Juniors Matthew Stephan, senator for Porter Hall, and Matthew Sinko, senator for Swing and Odgen halls, were the two other candidates running for this position.
Clampitt-Dietrich will take office after the current president of student senate, Douglas Haynes, graduates in May.
The main responsibility of the president of student senate is to preside over senate discussion. Clampitt-Dietrich will also ensure each senator is representing his constituents. Lastly, he will advertise legislation and make sure it is carried out.
Clampitt-Dietrich said he was relieved after winning his position.
"I think that I have a lot of outside leadership," Clampitt-Dietrich said. "Senate probably wanted to see some new ideas."
Currently, Clampitt-Dietrich is a second year senator serving on numerous committees in ASG, vice president of Red Alert, outreach chairman of College Democrats and an active member of the Greek community.
Clampitt-Dietrich said his specialty is in senate elections, having worked behind the scenes on other campaigns. He was co-campaign manager for ASG President-elect Jonathan McNabb's campaign, working specifically with the Greek community and students living off-campus.
"It was different to be the candidate this time," Clampitt-Dietrich said.
During his term as president of the senate, Clampitt-Dietrich hopes to achieve several goals including using A-framed billboards to keep students informed, rewarding outstanding students and using guest speakers to inspire legislation.
"The most important goal is definitely improving senate's representation on campus," Clampitt-Dietrich said.
Despite the fact his term has not officially begun, Clampitt-Dietrich said he has already been meeting with policy makers. The first thing he plans to pursue in fall 2009 is a creation of an all-campus brainstorming session.
Clampitt-Dietrich said these brainstorming sessions will be hosted by hall councils or other organizations for any student wishing to discuss Miami's policies and future ideas. ASG will use these student concerns to pass legislation directly aimed at pinpointing Miami students' concerns.
Prior to the election, each candidate presented a two-minute speech to ASG members followed by a question and answer session.
During his speech, Stephan said he was concerned with the importance of teaching incoming senators about ASG, by using mock trials as a teaching tool.
Stephan said he has seen many different types of leadership throughout his years serving as a senator.
"I've been here for three years," Stephan said. "I really know what's going on."
Although Sinko has been a senator for one year, he said he has learned quite a bit.
"I want to continue my involvement in ASG," Sinko said.
Sinko said he would suggest taking more time to advertise ASG and increase communication between senators and their constituents "I think the senator is the only link most people have to student government," Sinko said.
Stephan said he would like to stay involved in ASG next year but said he is unsure where he will be living fall 2009.
"We'll see how the rest of elections go," Stephan said.
If Clampitt-Dietrich needs help directing meetings, Stephan said he would be happy to help manage the meetings.
Sinko said he plans to stay active in ASG by continuing his term as a senator and sitting on the Academic Affairs Coalition and president's staff. In fall 2009, Sinko said he hopes to continue as a senator.
