Election Season on the Horizon: An Interview with EOC Chair Katie Stanley

Heidi Copple | hcopple@butler.edu  

As an active Justice in the Butler Student Government Association, Katie Stanley, a sophomore psychology major, is tasked with interpreting Senate resolutions and executive orders to ensure they are within Butler Student Government Associaton’s constitution, much like a real supreme court justice would. Additionally, she is also the chair of the Election Oversight Commission (EOC) which is responsible for making sure candidates follow the rules for this upcoming election season. 

Stanley’s other duties that she performs include helping format the debate between presidential candidates, work one on one with possible candidates, and work with EOC vice chair Kate Rashevich to make graphics that will draw students’ attention to help get them involved with the election process

With so many things on her plate this election season, Stanley has many tasks she has to perform that can be very time consuming. Though, she expressed how worthwhile it is helping serve the student body in this way. She added that before she had even come to Butler’s campus, she expressed interest in wanting to join SGA. She reached out to the SGA officials at the time and described how passionate she was about wanting to be involved.

Stanley also emphasized the importance of mental health and taking care of yourself. Especially with the upcoming elections, she knows that it is a busy time for everyone and sometimes it’s important to take a step back and breathe. She emphasized that she loves her position, but it can be very fatiguing.

“If I can’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of my people.”

Stanley takes mental health highly into consideration in a variety of situations. She has to manage her time very well, and she encourages others to do the same.

Something about SGA that Stanley wanted to highlight is how it is here to serve the students, not the Butler Administration. She would love to see more student body participation in the SGA elections because they are always looking to improve the student experience.

Some things Stanley has enjoyed about her position include having the opportunity to work with all of the other Butler students. She described how she enjoys working and interacting with first year students and reiterated how she always wants to help others keep their options open.

Stanley hopes for the upcoming elections that SGA and Butler will have more transparency and that SGA members remain engaged throughout the year.

Photo Courtesy of Katie Stanley