Saint Mary's College chose new leaders for the Student Activities Board (SAB), Student Diversity Board (SDB) and Residence Hall Association (RHA). The elections took place on Feb. 26.
Student Activities Board
With plans to "bring a new face to Student Activities Board," sophomore Jennifer Kline said she and sophomore Allie Courtney are excited to take the reigns as SAB leaders.
Courtney and Kline won SAB president and vice president uncontested.
Courtney has been a member of SAB for two years. She has served as co-chair of the Entertainment Committee. She also helped bring poet Gabriela Garcia Medina to campus in the fall of 2009.
"I am passionate about helping students become engaged in the Saint Mary's community," Courtney said. "I want to create an environment where students are excited to come to, and have fun, at events. I think that students deserve great events, and want to be part of the team that plans these events for the students."
Kline has also been involved with SAB for the past two years. She has served as co-chair of the Traditional Committee for one year. She also attended the National Association for Campus Activities National Convention (NACA Conference) in Nashville, Tenn., last year. This year she attended the National Conference in Boston.
"Ever since I began the Board freshman year, I have loved every minute of it," Kline said. "Last year at the NACA Conference in Nashville, I was able to really get involved in the behind-the-scenes work of planning campus activities. The Conference, both this year and last, reinforced my drive to bring the very best events to campus and put my acquired knowledge to good use."
Courtney and Kline plan to utilize student feedback in order to gain insight as to what is wanted on campus.
"We both feel student surveys are necessary and helpful to bring and plan successful acts around campus," Kline said.
Student Diversity Board
With new ideas to expand the Student Diversity Board, junior Morgan Gay and sophomore Kelly Reidenbach are ready to take office as the new president and vice president.
They were the only ticket to run during the Feb. 26 election.
Gay has been a member of SDB for two years. She has worked as chair for the SDB Bonfire Committee. She has also served as a member of the Committee for Diversity Desserts and has been the College Track committee member of the Diverse Student Leadership Conference (DSLC). As College Track committee member, Gay has been responsible for recruiting students from other universities and colleges to attend DSLC, which will be held from March 17-19 at the College.
"When I came to college, I heard about the Student Diversity Board and I think it's really important to promote diversity," Gay said. "It all starts with treating people with respect. With the events that SDB holds, just learning about other cultures and understanding them and their point of view, I think [we] can make a difference."
Reidenbach has been a member of SDB for one year. She has acted as the DSLC Sodexo Chair. She has also been on the SDB Bonfire Committee and the Committee for the Hunger Banquet as well.
Gay and Reidenbach said they are planning on having many of the same events that have been held in the past, but hope to expand them.
"We just want to try and expand, get more people in the Saint Mary's community, as well as the Notre Dame and Holy Cross Community involved in what we do," Reidenbach said.
Gay added that they hope to get the word out and generate more interest and involvement.
"I think we have really good events," Gay said. "I really like what we do with them but I'd like to expand them and get more people to come to them because I really think that's what we're here for."
Residence Hall Association
Juniors Marianne Jones and Jessica Robbins will take over as Residence Hall Association president and vice president on April 1. They were the only ticket to run for the office.
Jones will take her place on the SGA board, replacing the current president, Cristen Dalessandro.
RHA currently oversees activities within the four residence halls on campus as well as the senior living apartment, Opus Hall. Most recently, they held a formal on Feb. 27.
Ashley Charnley contributed to this report.
