Julie Conlon
Equinox Staff
With seven vacant positions in the Keene State College Student Government, KSC Senior Class Representative and Student Assembly Chair Tyler Rines work double overtime.
“This has been a unique year for student government,” Rines, a senior, said in response to the challenge student government currently faces with seven open positions.
[singlepic id=850 w=320 h=240 float=right]
“We usually see a couple vacancies, but this year it seems every month someone drops out,” Rines said.
The seven positions consist of one USSBR Trustee position, one non-traditional representative position, three sophomore class representative positions, and two junior class representative positions.
The USSBR position, which stands for the University System Student Body Representative, requires a student to take on responsibilities as a non-voting member of the University System Board of Trustees at general meetings.
The non-traditional representative position requires that a student meet at least one of the following criteria: have taken at least one academic year off, is married and or has children, is at least 23 years of age and is six or more credit hours beyond his or her requirements for graduation, according to the student government web site.
The representative positions allow a student to serve on his or her class’s executive board and represent fellow classmates and plan events for their class while serving on the Student Assembly where they vote on bills, funding and budget requests, constitution approvals, and other domestic legislation.
Jake Piecuch, elections committee chair, echoed Rines and said in his years involved with KSC student government he never saw so many students have to relinquish their positions for various reasons.
“This is the first time I’ve seen so many open positions,” Piecuch said. “I think some students needed to take care of personal things or dropped out due to conflicting schedules.”
Paul Striffolino, advisor to KSC student government, said the Assembly needs to challenge themselves to fill the positions as soon as possible.
“I think student government’s challenge is to continue to promote themselves to the students in a way that students can see the value and opportunity that student government has with the college,” Striffolino continued. “It’s a very valuable contribution to the campus—the challenge is for student government to solicit additional participation from students.”
Rines commented, “This is difficult because these currently open positions were not open from the start,” Rines explained. “Students are having to come in half way through second semester—it hurts the already in place routine.”
Rines explained the advertised open positions “created a lot of buzz” in the beginning, yet student government has only seen one student follow through with a petition. That student is junior Lorin Dupuis.
Studying business management at KSC, Dupuis entered the quest for involvement with an agenda to build her resume.
Dupuis said she sat in on several KSC club meetings, attempting to find a group that felt right.
It wasn’t until Dupuis responded to the open Junior Class Representative position that she found what she was looking for.
In a unanimous vote, Dupuis received the position as a junior class representative last week before the Assembly.
“I had a blast,” Dupuis said. Dupuis commented on her first experience within student government, “I can tell it will be fun—there’s just an awesome atmosphere there.”
Striffolino similarly commented, “It’s a great group of students—it functions as a source of friends and a support group, but it’s also about ideas, and it’s challenging.”
Commenting on the student body’s lack of enthusiasm for open positions, Dupuis encouraged her peers to get involved as she did.
“People are probably intimidated by such a huge organization,” Dupuis said. “This group is extremely awesome—just go for it,” Dupuis continued. “Even rejection is a learning experience.”
Striffolino added, “The commitment isn’t overwhelming. It’s a meeting a week, and a subcommittee meeting a week, and some office hours.”
Piecuch said a lack of understanding may serve as another reason students have yet to make a commitment to student government.
Piecuch said, “I think a lot of people just don’t know what happens at student government.” Piecuch explained student government just approved funding for the upcoming Chalk Talk, funded the recent service trip to Jamaica, and provided funds for the KSC dance team upon request.
“This is a great group to get involved with,” Piecuch said. “I wish more people would get involved on this campus.”
Striffolino explained the type of student the government needs is one who shows enthusiasm towards KSC.
“We need a student who’s interested in making a difference–a student who wants to understand how the college works and who wants to participate in the continual evolution of the college,” Striffolino explained.
Piecuch said students interested in applying for the available seven positions must get a petition, available outside office 235 of the Student Offices on the second floor of the student center. Students must also be available every Tuesday evening for Assembly meetings at 6:30 p.m.
The new deadline to submit petitions has been set for Feb. 27 at noon. Elections are set for Feb. 28 where eligible candidates with approved petitions will be given the opportunity to express their qualifications to the Assembly Representatives before the Assembly votes.
Piecuch encouraged willing students to apply.
“Anybody willing to be a leader on this campus, who’s willing to work hard and have fun should apply—chances are we’ll accept them!” Piecuch stated.
Rines added students interested in applying for a position within student government next fall should consider applying for a position now.
“Why not fill a position now and get involved before the general elections this spring?” Rines proposed.
Striffolino similarly encouraged students to recognize what a crucial opportunity a spot in student government holds to the campus.
Striffolino commented, “Things are always changing. As there is change, there is opportunity for people to participate in that change, and the student voice is listened to and plays a role. The more students get involved, the stronger that voice is.”
Striffolino concluded, “It’s a learning ground for finding out who you are and learning to publically speak and articulate your point of view. It’s a great training ground for people after they graduate.”
Julie Conlon can be contacted at jconlon1@ksc.mailcruiser.com