positions to focus
on schoolwork
Staff Writer
Two members of Student Government have chosen to resign to focus on their studies. Greg Williford, Student Body Association (SBA) Vice President, and Theressia Hazelmyer, SBA Treasurer, have left student government after two years of participation in the Senate and on the Executive Board. Despite two of six Executive Board Members missing, Scott Saunders, Student Government Advisor, does not feel that student leadership will be adversely affected. “We have excellent student leaders who are very capable, very professional, extremely skilled and dedicated members,” Saunders said. “The remaining team continues to create a strong leadership.”
Hazelmyer said she decided to resign because of scheduling conflicts and to focus on her studies. “Being involved with Student Government is good on your resume, but it's not just saying you've done it - you need to back it up and you need to get involved,” Hazelmyer said. Hazelmyer realizes now that even though she is passionate about making a difference on SCC's campus, her studies come first. The position of Treasurer holds Hazelmyer chair of the Budget Committee, and becomes particularly involved in the spring when the Budget Committee assembles the budget for the next school year. Hazelmyer's schedule conflicted with attending crucial Senate and Executive Board meetings. “I know now I need to learn how to say, 'no' and the reality is that I'm here to go to school,” Hazelmyer said. She hopes to become a dentist and is currently applying to the University of Washington Dental Hygiene Program.
Hazelmyer became SBA Treasurer by filling in as Interim Treasurer in late September 2005 when Beau Baird, who was elected spring 2005, resigned. As SBA Treasurer, Hazelmyer feels she has created a bridge for students to understand the budget better. “A lot of people find the budget intimidating, so I simplified it and organized it for students and faculty to understand better,” Hazelmyer said. “By organizing and simplifying things like the budget and creating club files, student government and the administration will make better decisions with our money.” Student government is allocated nearly 2 million dollars of student money to budget for clubs, athletics, performing arts, and publications.
Although Hazelmyer has resigned, she has agreed to stay on as Interim Treasurer as applications are being reviewed for both positions. Chance Kennedy, who served on the Senate last year, will be filling in as Interim Vice President. Hazelmyer shows admiration for students who are and want to be active on campus. Of the 57 currently active clubs, Hazelmyer specifically praises the African Student Club and the Black Student Union (which merged together this past quarter) for their recent contribution to Multicultural Week. “I cannot commend students enough for their involvement and enrichment they bring to the campus,” Hazelmyer said.
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Theressia Hazelmyer resigned her permanent postion as SBA Treasurer to focus on her studies.
Williford, who served on the student senate last year, took big steps to become Vice President this year. “I admit I was in a little over my head,” Williford said. “I honestly don't believe I was as effective as I could have been.” Williford is also resigning for personal reasons and to concentrate on school. Driven by his “passion” that has been acknowledged by Elliot Newlin, SBA President, and Saunders, Williford said his goals will continue to be giving a voice to students. In an institution where transitioning positions is constant, Williford says that it is important to keep student interests in mind because it is often looked over by administration. “The people who participate in student government are so commendable,” Williford said. Williford describes himself more of as a “people-person” to students, than as an administrative link. While his personal reasons lie within conflicts with the administration, Williford is confident student government will continue to give voice to students in the future. “I hope student government will step up and speak up to the administration,” Williford said. “It is important that students aren't misguided because administration interests are sometimes different than student interests.” Williford's passion to represent student needs and ideas has not completely died off. After he is done concentrating on his studies, Williford is determined to continue to make efforts and find a way to help students on campus, but does not plan on returning to student government. Until then, he hopes students will take on a larger role on campus than in the past. “If students supported student government more and if students expressed their concerns to student government, they would be taken seriously and welcomed,” Williford said. “It is a very effective way to create change on this campus.”
The two student executives leaving will be missed by members of student government. “She [Hazelmyer] provides excellent balance and motivation to our team that will really be missed,” Newlin said.
When asked what would be missed most about Williford, Newlin said, “His passion. When he has passion - you can tell. It's inspiring.” Newlin, who was occasionally challenged by Williford, now says that he often asks himself, “What would Greg say about this?” to help his judgments.
“He [Williford] brought a different element to the team as a fiery leader,” Saunders said. After being the student government advisor for 31 years, Saunders has seen many changes in student government. “It's students like [Williford and Hazelmyer] who we get lots of innovation from so that the student government can create places like the Parent Child Center, the Math Learning Center, and the Multicultural Center.”
Student Government will announce the new SBA Vice President and Treasurer, who will serve the remainder of the school year by mid-February.
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