Executive Vice President of Northeastern’s Student Government Association, Matty Coleman, a fourth-year psychology major, announced Monday night they planned to resign from their role to prioritize their “personal well-being and health.”
The Student Government Association, or SGA, will hold an emergency internal election Oct. 30 to fill the vacated executive vice president, or EVP, position. SGA Vice President for External Affairs Shriya Thangada, a fourth-year economics and business administration combined major, will serve as the interim presiding officer of the senate until a new EVP is elected, according to a statement provided to The News by the SGA.
“This past summer I had a resurgence of some mental illness symptoms, and since then, I’ve gotten started on the journey of changing around my medications,” Coleman said in a statement to The News. “This has impeded my ability to function in the EVP role to the fullest capacity, and trying to function in the EVP role at the highest level impeded my ability to give my wellness the attention it has been needing.”
In the statement, SGA’s executive board expressed support for Coleman’s decision and praised their “self-awareness and emphasis on care.”
“Matty’s contributions to the Student Government Association and the broader student body have been nothing short of remarkable,” the statement read. “Their dedication, compassion, and relentless pursuit of student advocacy in the areas of mental health, LGBTQA+ barriers, and resource accessibility have left an indelible positive impact on our community. Although we are saddened by their departure, we are equally proud of their contributions and the significant impact they have made during their tenure.”
Coleman ran for EVP in the spring 2023 SGA elections as part of the CLEAN slate campaign along with Student Body President Charlie Zhang, a fourth-year independent major in sociology, anthropology, and global strategy, according to SGA’s leadership website. The slate ran on normalizing mental health awareness, holding university administration accountable, elevating equity and improving access to a wide variety of resources for students.
“It’s not an ideal decision for me, but it’s a necessary one to ensure I can fully bounce back from where I found myself mentally at the close of this summer,” Coleman continued in their statement. “It also enables someone who does have the wiggle room to give the EVP position the attention it deserves the ability to step up to the role, which in my perspective is better for the association and the student body as a whole.”
Nominations to run for EVP are now open, per SGA’s website. The role entails assisting the president in planning, projects and initiatives and overseeing the senate’s internal communications.
Coleman expressed gratitude for their “phenomenal” experience with SGA, emphasizing the “incredibly supporting, validating and flexible individuals” in the organization who have worked to make the transition successful.
“We wholeheartedly support Matty’s decision and wish them the very best in their journey,” SGA’s statement read. “We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and working diligently towards bettering the Northeastern undergraduate student experience.”
