"IOP has undergone many changes this year, and we wanted to have new leadership at the meeting so that we can continue to move forward and start talking about new ideas," McLain said.

IOP Executive Director Cathy A. McLaughlin says she sees the early election as a positive way to introduce new leadership to some of the new board members.

"Students took it upon themselves to do this so that the chair and the vice chair could meet with new board members, so that everyone would start out at the same time," McLaughlin said. "It gives Hannah and Rich more time to work with the new board."

Both Choi and Cooper have chaired SAC committees for three semesters prior to being elected to their current positions.

"They have been active leadership ever since they got onto the body," Mahoney said.

Choi also plans to expand IOP programming to let students participate more actively in IOP activities.

"Our overall mission is to give associates the most rewarding experience at the IOP," Choi said. "I think the best way to do this is to give them tangible things to do at the IOP."