SJS Archives

The SJS has been around, in some form of student government, since 1938. The organization has a rich and unique history that helps tell the stories of SJU during their respective time periods. The purpose of the SJS archives is to help us understand our history, and why the organization has developed to what it is today. 

Check out the SJU Archives to find more information on the SJS, or more information about Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s history!

Leadership of the SJU Student Government since 1938

President

Student Senate (1981 – Present) 

  • Wes Kirchner 2023-2024 
  • Durran Thompson 2022-2023 
  • Connor Kockler 2021-2022 
  • Joseph Schwamm 2020-2021 
  • Owyn Ferguson 2019-2020 
  • David Johnson III 2018 – 2019 
  • Jack Cummings 2017 – 2018 
  • Ramond Mitchell 2016 – 2017 
  • Alex Wald 2015 – 2016 
  • Tyler Brown 2014 – 2015 
  • Andrew Hovel 2013 – 2014 
  • Patrick Stewart-Hester 2012 – 2013 
  • Kyle Glynn 2011 – 2012 
  • Colman Silbernagel 2010 – 2011 
  • Emmanuel McDonald 2009 – 2010 
  • Joe Daly 2007 – 2009  
  • Kevin May 2006 – 2007 
  • Joshua Robinson 2005 
  • Maxwell Smith 2004 
  • Michael Hahn 2003 
  • Joshua Fiedler 2002 
  • Lloyd Grieger 2000, 2001 
  • John Borgen  1999 
  • Tom Linnemann 1998 
  • Tony Iannazzo 1997 
  • Andy Shroepfer 1996 
  • Ryan McGovern 1995 – 1996 
  • Mike Kraabel 1995 
  • Pat Melvin 1994 – 1995 
  • Terry Flynn 1993 – 1994  
  • Andrew Tollefson 1992 – 1993 
  • Kevin Jansen 1991 – 1992  
  • Chris Diffley 1990 – 1991  
  • Eric Trettel 1989 – 1990  
  • Chris McGowan 1988 – 1989  
  • Robert Christiansen 1987 – 1988  
  • Ray Benning 1986 – 1987  
  • Pat Belisle 1985 – 1986  

Student Forum 1938 – 1939 

  • Mitchell Perrizo – First Student Forum President (Elected Spring 1938) 
  • John Schwab (Fall 1938-Spring 1939) 

Student Board 1939 – 1943 

  • Mitchell Perrizo (Spring 1939-Fall 1939) 
  • George Grace (Fall 1939-Spring-1940)  
  • John Kehoe (Spring 1940) 
  • George LePage (Spring 1940- Spring 1941) 
  • George Grace (Spring 1941 – Fall 1941) 
  • Val Marchildon (Fall 1941 – Spring 1942) 
  • Ed Henry (Spring 1942 – Fall 1942) 
  • James Cullen (Fall 1942 – Spring 1943) 
  • Ed Lucking (Fall 1943 – Spring 1944) 

Student Council 1943 – 1969 

  • John Desmond (Fall 1944 – Spring 1945) 
  • Henry “Bruts” Welsch (Spring 1945 – Spring 1946) 
  • Gene Connelly (Fall 1947) 
  • John Simonett (Spring 1948) 
  • Pat McHale (Fall 1948 ) 
  • Jerry Tooley (Spring 1949) 
  • Paul Mulready (Fall 1949) 
  • Bob Hutton (Spring 1950) 
  • Pat Bresnahan (Fall 1950) 
  • Pat McGinnis (Spring 1951) 
  • Dick Culhane  (Fall 1951) 
  • Larry Donlin (Spring 1952) 
  • Robert Martinka (Fall 1952) 
  • Robert Shafer (Spring 1953) 
  • John Reilly (Fall 1953) 
  • Mike Donahue (Spring 1954) 
  • John Galm (Fall 1954) 
  • Robert Krzmarzick (Spring 1955) 
  • William Hobday (Fall 1955) 
  • Ronald Howard (Spring 1956) 
  • Jerry Hermsen (Fall 1956) 
  • Byron Johnson (Spring 1957) 
  • Bernard Kinnick (Fall 1957) 
  • Larry Koll (Spring 1958) 
  • Bruce Cripe  (Fall 1958) 
  • Bob Labat (Spring 1959) 
  • Tom Campbell (Fall 1959) 
  • Mike Skwira (Spring 1960)] 
  • Henry Gallagher (Fall 1960) 
  • Michael Murphy (Spring 1961) 
  • Bob Gavin (Fall 1961) 
  • Dick Steinbronn (Spring 1962) 
  • Dick Steinbronn (Fall 1962) 
  • Gar Mulroney (Spring 1963) 
  • Jim Marrin (Fall 1963) 
  • Thomas Stockfish (Spring 1964) 
  • John Chenoweth (Fall 1964) 
  • Steve Askew 1965-1966 
  • John Van de North 1966-1967 
  • Jim Borgestad 1967-1968 
  • Pat Ellingsworth 1968 – 1969 

Undergraduate Student Government (1969-1972)  

  • Terry Aronson 1969-1970 
  • President Dave VanLandschoot 1970 – 1971 
  • Thomas Farnham 1971-1972 
  • John Thavis 1972  
  • Julian Whitley 1972-1973 

Student Executive Council (1973-1981) 

  • Mark Ginder 1973-1974 
  • Mark Ginder 1974 – 1975 
  • Conrad Graff 1975 
  • John Mathias 1975-1976 
  • Tim Fristrom 1976-1977 
  • Dave Hawkins 1977-1978 
  • Tony Lusvardi 1978 – 1979  
  • SEC Chairman Jim McKeown 1979 – 1980 
  • Tom Lenard 1980 – 1981  

SJU Senate Elections

Interested in running for SJU Senate postion in the future? Please refer to the full rules in this example election packet here before campaigning for SJU Senate. 

SJS Elections Guidelines 

I. Campaign Rules 

  1. Affidavits must be submitted on time, no exceptions.

    1. In case of vacant positions due to lack of candidacy, there will be a special election. 

  2. Campaign Start and Finish Times

    1. Times are to be strictly enforced. 
    2. All public displays of candidacy may only be displayed between the start and finish times. 
    3. Public displays of candidacy include all posters or signs that are put up by Student Leadership and Engagement (SLE). 

  3. Mass Email

    1. Use of school, club, or other pre-prepared campus email distribution lists is strictly prohibited. 
    2. This means for not only the candidates, but also for anyone wishing to campaign on behalf of a candidate. 

  4. Posting

    1. All public displays supporting one’s candidacy shall follow the rules set forth by Student Leadership and Engagement. (Located in Mary 025, SJU) 
    2. Materials that are posted without the necessary stamp of approval will be removed. 

  5. Election Day

    1. No candidate may campaign within 30 feet of any public voting station. 

Important Information Regarding Posters: 

Each candidate will be allowed 6, 8 ½ x 11 inch posters to be posted in any public area except the 1st floor of Sexton.  Each candidate will be allowed 3 posters no to exceed 11” x 17”.  All public posters MUST be stamped and approved by the Student Leadership and Engagement. The poster MUST also be stamped and approved by SLE in Mary 025 (It’s next to the OLC).  No posters will be allowed to be placed on any window or glass surface. Any number of posters in a private area is allowed as long as the owner of that public place agrees to have the material posted. A public area is defined as any location open to the general public and regularly used by the general public; examples of this include but are not limited to stairways, hallways, etc.  Private areas are defined as being part of someone’s private residence or office area; this can include but is not limited to dorm room walls, doors, office doors, etc. Please refer to the J-Book for more information regarding this policy: http://csbsju.edu/sju-student-development/j-book-student-policies 

III. Candidate Eligibility 

  1. The rules for candidate eligibility are outlined in SJS Constitution Article 1, Section C 
  2. It is the responsibility of each candidate to follow all election rules and guidelines. It is up to each candidate’s integrity to follow all rules. 

IV. Sanctions 

  1. Sanctions for violations of these guidelines may include, but are not limited to:

    1. Letter of apology to other candidates. 
    2. Loss of campaign privileges for a period of time designated by the Election Committee. 
    3. Revocation of candidacy. 

  2. The Election Committee reserves the right to determine and impose these sanctions.  

Student Trustee

Student Trustee Representatives (2012 – present)

  • Evan Mattson 2023-2024
  • Emmett Adam 2022-2023
  • Ashton Cleare 2021-2022
  • Jack Scheck 2020-2021
  • Sam Laux 2019 – 2020
  • Andrew McGee 2018-2019
  • Zachary Eichten 2017-2018
  • Zac McFarland 2016-2017
  • Ramond Mitchell 2015-2016
  • Luke Newgaard 2014-2015
  • Tyler Brown 2013 – 2014
  • Conner Griffin 2012 -2013

Student Regent (1989-2012)

  • Jon Ostazeski 2011-2012
  • Thomas Joyce 2010-2011
  • Kamau Joseph 2009 – 2010
  • Nicholas Truso 2008-2009
  • Nicholas Truso 2007 – 2008
  • Nicholas Truso 2006 – 2007
  • Cody Fischer 2005 – 2006*
  • Cody Fischer 2004 – 2005
  • Kevin Boggeman 2003 – 2004
  • Kevin  Boggeman 2002 – 2003
  • Jim Mulroney 2001 – 2002
  • Matt Schmit 2000 – 2001
  • Mike Slavic 1999 – 2000
  • Mike Slavic 1998 – 1999
  • Michael Sersch 1997 – 1998
  • Eric LeCompte 1996 – 1997
  • Phil Steger 1996 – 1997
  • Andrew Shroepfer 1995-1996
  • Doug Ferderer 1994-1995
  • S.R. Nithy 1993 – 1994
  • Terry Flynn 1992 – 1993
  • Mark Mulroney 1991 – 1992
  • Tom Nicol 1990-1991
  • Brett Loeb 1989 – 1990

*January to December (Calendar year) Elections switched to September to May (Academic Year) for all positions