The Student Association Assembly elected Hassan Shibly to the position of Assembly Speaker Tuesday afternoon at the group's first meeting of the year.
Twelve members of the assembly attended the meeting, run by Vice President Dela Yador. Yador outlined the responsibilities of the Assembly, which covers all student rights and concerns except for finances.
"Basically, the quality of life on campus, from finding a parking spot to not being able to understand your professor," Yador said.
According to SA Communication Director Ryan McGowan, there are about 28 assembly members this semester. Last year the Assembly started with over 100 members, but dwindled to 20 because of strict attendance requirements.
Paul Balzano, director of SA Student Affairs, said he would take 12 dedicated students over 100 non-committed ones.
"If twenty people show up and work hard they can do good things," Balzano said. "It's just a matter of getting them to show up. That's what's hard about the Assembly."
After his election, Shibly said he wanted to work closely with the SA Senate and set a new standard of accomplishment for the Assembly.
"I just want to be a great voice for the students here. The reason why we're here is for the students," said Shibly, a freshman.
Normally, the speaker position is chosen in the spring, but a Student-Wide Judiciary ruling last semester created a vacancy requiring Tuesday's shotgun vote.
The six members of the Assembly rules committee were also elected at the meeting. Positions for the academic affairs, student affairs, and communications committees were filled out by signing up.
