Elections on campus and across the state

March and April are seasons of change, and the same could be said of the many changes that occur throughout Wisconsin during election season. At the state level, Protasiewicz enters her new position on the Wisconsin supreme court with majority support from the Wisconsin public. Closer to home, Viterbo students are being elected for new positions in the Student Government Association (SGA). 

Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly were the leading two candidates running for the supreme court seat. Kelly was previously a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court under former Gov. Scott Walker, however, he lost his re-election in 2020. Before the election in April this year, Protasiewicz was working with the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.  

Regarding whether or not the Supreme Court should lean left or right, Protasiewicz says that “Our Supreme Court is very, very partisan, and it shouldn’t be that way. There shouldn’t be a thumb on the scale one way or another when a person comes into the Supreme Court.” Though Kelly shared a different sentiment about the election, “If an activist were to win next April, Wisconsin’s public policy would be imposed by four lawyers sitting in Madison instead of being adopted through our constitutional processes.”  Wisconsin people spoke with their votes on election day. The general election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court seat went in favor of Protasiewicz. She received a grand total of 633,204 votes, a 56.4% majority. Kelly received 489,288 votes and a 43.6% minority.  

On a smaller scale, Viterbo’s SGA elections also occurred around the same time. Some of the positions that were up for election included President, class senators and school representatives. All were open to apply for any qualified position through the candidate nomination forms. Nominations ended on March 31 and voting began April 3.  

SGA is a platform in which students represent one another. In the constitution for the SGA it reads, “This Constitution is set forth with the belief that active and thoughtful participation in every aspect of campus life that concerns students is beneficially attainable and that said participation should pursue the ideals of all without denying the ideals of one.”  Their reach is wide, as many clubs, projects and activities can be given funding provided by SGA. These include the Lumen student newspaper, intramurals, and funding for other student clubs and organizations. One of the more recent accomplishments from SGA was the library renovations, which included the fireplace that is now installed.   

SGA is a platform in which students represent one another. In the constitution for the SGA it reads, “This Constitution is set forth with the belief that active and thoughtful participation in every aspect of campus life that concerns students is beneficially attainable and that said participation should pursue the ideals of all without denying the ideals of one.”  Their reach is wide, as many clubs, projects and activities can be given funding provided by SGA. These include the Lumen student newspaper, intramurals, and funding for other student clubs and organizations. One of the more recent accomplishments from SGA was the library renovations, which included the fireplace that is now installed.   

The last few weeks have been filled with elections for Wisconsin and Viterbo. Statewide, a Supreme Court seat needed to be filled, while on campus, the Student Government Association had new members elected, which gave the many signs across campus that read “Get out and vote” more than one meaning.