ASWSU confirmed two new members to the senate and administration respectively in a meeting Wednesday night. 

Ainsley Carpenter, undeclared freshman, took to the podium and was later sworn in as an uncertified senator. 

“While talking with our ASWSU president, Jacob, earlier I found myself thinking about diversity within WSU,” she said. “Something that I would like to do while here in this position is to help with different communities, getting involved and maybe getting them to get the help that they need if they need it.”

Carpenter hopes to make events in classrooms more accessible for deaf, hard of hearing or blind individuals, along with students who have audio processing disorders. To do so, she aims to promote the Access Center to students.

“As the uncertified senator, I would like to help students find a place to find themselves. Whether that means finding out their major, having classes and clubs that are accessible to them or helping them out with maybe getting some opportunities for them, I would love to be a part of that,” she said.

Carpenter was a state officer for Washington 4-H which is a leadership, agriculture and STEM-oriented organization. As an officer, she proposed and led workshops throughout the state.

“I have hands-on work with communities throughout the state, bringing together most of the community members to help out some of their projects and such,” she said.

Carpenter also worked with 4-H as part of the national 4-H council, working alongside the CEO and other council members.

Carpenter gained experience as part of the 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus program in Washington, D.C. where she worked closely with Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, and Sen. Michael Bennet, of Colorado, on ways to involve youth in their communities.

Beatrice Anne Obaob (they/them), undeclared freshman, was later confirmed as an administrative assistant.

Obaob said they never saw leaders they could personally relate to when looking for guidance.

“Not having a role model created a struggle with who I wanted to be on a huge scale, and I didn’t know who I wanted to become,” they said.

Noticing their struggle, Obaob’s parents directed them toward volunteer work and high school clubs, including their high school’s Asian American Pacific Islander organization and a club providing help for LGBTQ+ youth.

A meeting with two POC leaders in Louisiana who were advocating for their community inspired Obaob.

“They’re leaders. Leaders that I found myself in,” they said.

Obaob is a part of Cougs Lead and the design committee at WSU.

“I really do think being presented with this position can be a great opportunity to develop more of my skills with flexibility, communication and more. I want to challenge myself on a higher level in multiple areas, and most of all, I want to help others find themselves in me,” they said.