On Feb. 28, the results of the Associated Student Body (ASB)special election were revealed to students in an email from new President Baba Cisse ’27. Cisse was elected alongside new Senator Erin Fails ’25 to fill the positions for the remainder of the school year. Django Sbarge ’26, who served as interim president while the role was unoccupied, will return to their role as vice president.
Cisse reflected on the experience of the election in an interview with The Mossy Log, discussing his background and his plans post-election.
“I’ve always dreamed about running for office here at Lewis & Clark,” Cisse said. “I wanted to step up and be in the space I saw there. I felt like I had a plan for the school, I wanted to show everyone how much closer we can be together as a community.”
Cisse emphasized the importance of community, discussing his background immigrating to the United States from Mali at a young age and his experience growing up in Maryland among a diverse group of peers.
“Education has always come first in my family,” Cisse said. “What I believe first and foremost is that everyone should be included, everyone should be heard.”
Cisse outlined some of his plans for how to maintain a connection between the student body and their government, heavily emphasizing the importance of community information and involvement.
“One of my main ideas is that I’m trying to be more active around campus, more on Instagram,” Cisse said. “I’m trying to make a video at least once a week, and that video will encompass everything that student government has been doing, as well as what I’ve been doing for the week and what I plan to do for the next week. I’m also advertising our senate meetings, which are open for anyone to get involved in.”
Another central feature of Cisse’s plans for the presidency is connecting with students online through social media. ASB is on Instagram @asbgov, and Cisse plans to post regularly about events and ways to get involved.
One point that Cisse stressed was his goal toward increased inclusion and unity on campus. He pointed out how LC can often feel fragmented, and how he wants to utilize his position to bring people together.
“It’s all about family,” Cisse said. “It’s all about representing each other at different spaces. I’m trying to make a huge push socially for the student body to feel more connected, as if student government is not an entity that is far away but an entity that is connected all around our student body.”
Speaking on his experience as an athlete, Cisse also touched on the often discussed division between athletes and the rest of campus, outlining how he thinks we can come together as a community.
“I’m trying to get my teammates out to events,” Cisse said. “I’m trying to get other athletes to feel as though they are represented as well.”
Cisse noted that students can get involved with ASB through committees.
“I’d love to see more people get involved with our Campus Activities Board. They always have events going on,” Cisse said. “We also have committees … that are open for all students to come.”
A list of committees and links to apply are available on the ASB page of the LC website.
Finally, Cisse emphasized his gratitude to the student body for his election.
“I am very thankful for the votes of confidence that I’ve gotten this past special election, I feel so honored,” Cisse said. “Because you all have placed so much love and support in me, I wish to give that back to the community as well.”
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