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SGA ELECTION DEBATE
Credit: Ruby Darwish
SGA candidates debate on Wednesday Sept. 24, 2025. Seated from left to right is, Sandra Alshakhaetreh, Brett Phenicie, Laurel Paul, Antonio Ghantous, Surabh Saxena, and Abhinav Siri.

Cleveland State fills student government vacancies in special election

Newly elected officers and senators began terms Oct. 7.

Cleveland State University has announced the results of a special Student Government Association election to fill vacancies for several positions including vice president, treasurer, secretary and several senate seats.

Incumbent President Alysha I Syed, elected in Spring 2025, will continue in her position, as will other representatives elected in Spring 2025.

The special election was called due to a lack of seats filled as the semester began.

Senior computer science major Laurel Paul was elected vice president. Surabh Saxena, a graduate student in information sciences, was elected as treasurer, while senior computer engineering major Abhinav Siri ran unopposed for secretary and was duly installed.

"I'm immensely grateful to the CSU student body for this opportunity," Siri said. "I look forward to working hand in hand with Alysha, Laurel, and Surabh to build the student government you deserve."

E.J. Wendt, a junior liberal studies major,  was elected to represent the College of Arts and Sciences. Afhan Taha, a health sciences student, will serve the College of Health, and accounting and finance student Gisela Cortez will represent the College of Business.

Other new senators include undergraduate at-large representative Kenleigh Black, graduate at-large representative Tyler Hatch, freshman class senator Urwah Yasser and residence hall senator Kayla Moore Adams.

The officers’ terms began after an orientation session on Oct. 7.