The Council of Representatives (COR) approved several official positions in student government organizations at its meeting Tuesday. It was the final COR meeting overseen by outgoing student body president Grant Schmidt, vice president Cynthia Weber and chief of staff Ryan Brellenthin before president-elect Catherine Soler and vice president-elect Andrew Bell are sworn into office this week.
Junior Marcelo Perez was unanimously approved by COR to be the Judicial Council President for the 2010-2011 academic year. Perez has served as the Judicial Council vice president for two years and said he plans to bring his past experience to his new position.
"I've learned you need to be totally neutral when planning the elections," Perez said. "I've had to learn to be balanced for everybody and not just for a single group."
"[Perez] has always been ethical and professional when handling the elections," Weber said. "He will be a great Judicial Council president."
Soler presented her choice for her chief of staff, junior Nick Ruof, who was unanimously approved by COR members.
"He is the ideal candidate and has a ton of experience," Soler said. "He is going to do a great job."
Two candidates were presented for the positions of assistant student union treasurers. Sophomore Carl Brophy and freshman Eric Biro were both approved by COR for the 2010-2011 academic year.
After the approvals had concluded, Schmidt opened the floor to COR members to provide any advice they had for Soler in her new position as student body president.
Members recommended more collaboration with other groups, more speakers when appropriate in order to better inform COR members about University policy and encouragement for COR members to bring suggestions from their specific councils and groups get different perspectives from the entire council.
COR members discussed what a great year they had with student government, and Weber commended Schmidt's role.
"If someone should get thanks it should be Grant," she said. "It's been a great year for COR, and we really have Grant to thank for that."
Schmidt likewise thanked the members for their service to the University as members of student government for the 2009-2010 year and wished Soler luck in her future endeavors as president.
"It's been an awesome year, and we've gotten a lot done," Schmidt said. "I think Catherine and Andrew are going to tear it up next year."
