Former Student Senate President Emily Feehan gave her reasons for stepping down in a resignation letter read by Business Sen. Caitlin Stene at the weekly Winona State University Student Senate meeting.
Feehan, a Senior Advertising major had been Student Senate president since Thanksgiving when former President Jared Stene passed away.
In the letter Feehan thanked the Student Senators and the student body for their support, and went on to say that she felt that she would be doing a disservice to the students of Winona State if she remained as President, since she would not have been able to give the students the time they deserved.
Feehan wrote in her resignation letter that, “with graduation now less than 36 days away, I must hunker down and concentrate on finishing my college career.”
While schoolwork may be the reason for her resignation, Feehan faced recent criticism. At a recent state college system trustee meeting in St. Paul, Minn., Feehan was criticized by MNSCU representatives for stating on behalf of the Student Senate and the University that students were satisfied with the process of choosing computers, which is incorrect. MNSCU representatives informed the trustees that it has been found that Winona State students are uncertain if this is the right process to use to choose new computers.
Feehan is no stranger to criticism during her time on the Senate, the first of which were the September elections, which as then Vice President, she was in charge of. Voting process was determined to be flawed and it was stopped halfway through and reopened two weeks later.
After Feehan assumed command of Student Senate, she fired six veteran cabinet members in the Senate. An impeachment of Feehan was attempted, but failed.
Taking over as President is Rotney O’Shea, a senior senator who was promoted to Vice President after Stene’s passing. “I was a bit surprised, but we have to get through it,” said O’Shea about Feehan’s decision to resign.
O’Shea will serve as president for the remaining four weeks of classes until he graduates and the newly elected President David Obray takes over.

Contact Claudia at CDCappie9866@winona.edu