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SA congress inducts new members
BY SARAH JOCHEMS
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
ISSUE: 78/30
On Monday, May 5, members of the Student Association (SA) held a welcoming congress where they inducted new members, voted other SA members into various positions and discussed next year’s Bulldog Bash. Former SA president Thomas DeMinico announced his new position as chairman of Better Neighbors and Jason Wittrock as the 2008-2009 SA president.
Other inducted members into SA for the 2008-2009 school year included VP of Student Affairs Kaylee Timbers and VP of Finance Andrew Sax. Victor de Meireles and Josh Gillson were the two SA members running for next year’s chair of congress. In a 11-6 vote at the meeting, Gillson was elected to be next year’s chair of congress. “I’ve been a SA member for three years doing numerous initiatives,” said Gillson. “I would like to start giving back to others, not just the committee. Being chair will be a good step.”
Vice chair was given to runner-up de Meireles. Anna Lundberg, Matt Lundberg and Thomas DeMinico were appointed as next year’s representatives at large. After SA members were inducted and voting took place, VP of Academic Affairs Ashley Brown, talked about this up-coming August’s Bulldog Bash. “We’re making it mandatory this year,” Brown said. “Twenty-one point four percent of freshman students don’t come back for various reasons. We’re hoping with this event, students will be excited and motivated: ‘I know where the stadium is. I know where my classes are.’”
Brown continued, saying that students can move in on Thursday, Sept. 1, but have to be moved in by noon on Friday, Sept. 2. Brown understands that it can be difficult to make it mandatory. “After all, many of them are 18 years old,” Brown said. Brown spoke about possible forms of punishment students would have if they did not show up to the mandatory bash. “Students would have a hold on their record,” Brown said. “They might have to talk to their advisor and write about their reason for missing before that hold is taken off.”
Brown said they are looking for around 180 student team leaders who would be in charge of up to 15 incoming freshman. “Each leader will be assigned the same students for the whole weekend. If one of the freshman students is missing, leaders will tally if they don’t show up, [and] why they won’t participate in a particular activity,” Brown said. “The reason for this is we [SA] want to know how we can improve that freshman drop-out rate.”
Brown spoke of the perks of becoming a student team leader. “Leaders will get a college credit, a $150 stipend and who [can] pass up free food?” she said.
