In an uncontested election, Molly Culot and Benedikt Winkler were elected the student body president and executive vice president, respectively, for the 2026-27 academic year for Student Government Association, or SGA.
Additionally, all referenda included on this year’s ballot passed, which included requiring Northeastern’s Board of Trustees to release its meeting minutes to the Northeastern community and providing more protections to international students.
Culot and Winkler, who ran under the slate “Huskies Unleashed,” received 70.5% of the total votes cast, not including abstentions. Students were able to cast their vote either on the Student Hub or in-person in Curry Crossroads at various times throughout election week March 14 through March 22.
The results were announced during a March 23 SGA Senate meeting.
“Thank you for electing us! We look forward to taking office and working with students and student organizations alike to improve the Northeastern student experience. If you have any input that you’d like to share, please reach out to our emails at [email protected] and [email protected] and we’d be happy to chat,” Culot, who is a second-year computer science and business administration combined major, and Winkler, who is a third-year computer science major, wrote in a March 27 statement to The Huntington News.
For each referendum question on the ballot, students were asked to vote either yes, no or abstain. Their responses, “help guide improvements to the student experience and contribute to our advocacy efforts,” according to the 2026 election voter guide. In order for a referendum to pass, a “simple majority” must be achieved.
The referenda included on the ballot called for either SGA action or university action and were as follows.
On “Student Access to the John D. O’Bryant Institute: Do you support pausing the proposed safety changes at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute and working with [Black Student Organization] leaders to find safety solutions that do not limit student access?” 90.46% of students voted “yes,” not including abstentions. The university recently faced backlash from many of its Black students after a Jan. 20 email announced that the institute, which was previously accessible late into the night and early morning, would close at 8:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. The hours have since been updated to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m Monday through Friday.
On “Policy on Immigration Protection and Student Rights: Do you support implementing a school policy that provides student immigration protections by implementing students’ rights and educational resources regarding interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement? 93.41% of students voted “yes,” not including abstentions. In December, Northeastern’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, or YDSA hosted a rally on Northeastern’s campus where they called upon Northeastern to formally bar ICE from entering campus.
On “Board of Trustees Meeting Minute Transparency: With the exception of Executive Sessions, should the Northeastern Board of Trustees release meeting minutes accessible to the Northeastern Community after each meeting that is held?” 93.48% of students voted “yes,” not including abstentions.
On “A Call for Students to be on the Policy Oversight Committee: Should Northeastern allow for the election or appointment of a student representative to the university Policy Oversight Committee?” 93.41% of students voted “yes,” not including abstentions.
On “Demonstrations at Northeastern: Should Northeastern’s demonstration policy define a minimum number of participants before permission must be requested to assemble?” 62.27% of students voted “yes,” not including abstentions.
Culot and Winkler will assume their respective roles July 1, taking over from Julian Herzing-Burkard and Dylan Lee.
