Newly inaugurated student body president Liz Brown and student body vice president Maris Braun began their administration of Council of Representatives (COR) meetings Tuesday as COR approved candidates for various leadership positions for the 2007-08 term.
The appointments included a policy branch controller, director of communications, chief controller for the Student Union Board (SUB), co-directors of programming for SUB, director of operations for SUB and director of publicity for SUB.
COR approved junior Dominic Debonis as policy branch controller, after Brown nominated him, noting that he spent last summer "garnering real world experience in finance, interning with Intel Software's Finance Department."
Junior Will Kearney was approved as the new director of communications.
"I am confident that Will is qualified for the position due to his impressive writing abilities and unique flair," Brown said. "His sense of humor and enthusiastic personality will positively influence the office and transform students' perception of student government."
Kearney said one area he plans to improve is Stall Notes.
"I felt that they were a little on the boring side and tedious to read," he said. "I think we could spice them up a little bit."
Junior Sarah Schmall was approved as the chief controller for SUB. Board manager Phil Ross said Schmall "has the technical skills and knowledge of programming necessary to serve with other members of the Executive Board."
Meghan Kelly and Peter Biava were approved as co-directors of programming for SUB. Kelly is a junior psychology student from Walsh Hall and Biava is a junior finance student from Keough Hall.
Sam McDonald was approved as the director of operations for SUB. McDonald is a sophomore marketing and economics student, and in the past he has organized various events including Fall Mall and exam stress relievers.
Laura Fox was approved as the director of publicity for SUB. Fox, a junior English student, was the Notre Dame Literary Festival programmer and worked with the current director of publicity on other projects throughout the year.
Brown also noted that she wanted members to start thinking about goals for COR's upcoming year.
"COR dealt with the off-campus ordinance and its effects on community relations two years ago, and most recently COR has talked about fiscal policies including the recently created student endowment," she said. "That being said, we'd be open to anything that anyone would like to talk about."
Further discussion on possible initiatives will continue next week.
