On Sunday April 10 I had the pleasure of once again spending the evening with our student government leaders as we inaugurated a new group of executive officers and senators for the 2011-2012 year. The previous administration of David Marquis was a very successful one, resulting in numerous new initiatives and more than eighty pieces of passed legislation. The new Office on the Quad program increased SGA visibility, and after two years of trying, SGA implemented a new student discount card with local merchants. Add some important internal Association improvements, a revamping of the Association’s transition process and Emerging Leader Program, and it is clear that our student leaders had a very active and productive session.
New Student Body President Zach Owens and his team were sworn in, and we had a wonderful time both celebrating the accomplishments of 2010-2011 while also looking forward to the year ahead. I am very excited to see what the coming year holds for this very talented group of student leaders.
Something very noteworthy about our student government is how much a part of the shared governance process SGA is at Illinois State. SGA has had its Constitution signed by University President Al Bowman in recognition of SGA’s status as the official governing body for students at Illinois State University. Students hold twenty-one voting seats on the Academic Senate (all twenty Senators plus the Student Body President), granting SGA a degree of influence that is very rare in higher education. Finally, a student Trustee serves as a voting member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and serves as an ex-officio member of the Academic Senate and the Student Government Association.
Rick Olshak, 2010-2011 Student Body President David Marquis, 2010-2011 President of the Assembly Douglas Schlesser
2010-2011 Executive Director Lauren Martin, Rick Olshak, 2010-2011 Student Body President David Marquis
Rick Olshak, 2010-2011 Secretary of Sustainability Rob Martin
Vice President of Student Affairs Steve Adams swears in the 2011-2012 Executive Officers: Zach Owens (Student Body President), Aaron VonQualen (Student Body Vice President) and Kara Davis (Executive Director)