Thursday, Septem.
Woycheck resigns
by Sean Siekkinen
Collegian Staff
For the past month, Student
Government Association
President Mike Woycheck has
been juggling the responsibilities
of running SGA with the
responsibilities of carrying a full
class load. Woychex is also
working in a co-op program for
Copesvulcan in the field of his
new MIS major. For Woycheck,
there were not enough hours in
the day.
“Therefore, I can not fulfill the
duties of the office of the
president [of SGA].” With these
words, Woycheck resigned his
post, putting the reigns of the
organization temporarily into the
hands of SGA Vice-President
Dave Miller.
Currently, Woycheck’s declared
major is Political Science.
Woycheck is forced to carry a full
class load because, without
credits in several prerequisite
classes, he is unable to change
his major to MIS (Management
Information Systems). The
computer related work he
performs at Copesvulcan does not
qualify for credit in the Political
Science program.
“I am reluctant to do this,”
Woycheck said. “I don’t want to
do this, but it’s something I have
Fee passes
by Steve R. Landon
Collegian Staff
The University’s Board of Trustees
(BOT) unanimously approved the concept
of a student activity fee after less than
thirty minutes of discussion.
The vote on the issue followed two
years of debate and discussion among
student leaders and
“I was pleased with the outcome," said
Vice President of Student Affairs William
Asbury, who will be heading the
implementation committee for the fee.
“The responsibility now is to see that the
students see the results of the decision [to
approve the fee].”
Some of the trustees expressed their
desire for students to control how the
funds are used.
“Students have to have control,” Trustee
Nancy Kidd said. “That process worked [in
the past].”
Trustee Ben Novak also felt students
should control the funds received from the
fee. Novak opposes the formation of an
Collesian
iber 28,1995 Erie.
SGA President cites overload
consultation, it was seen as my
best option to resign from the
presidency”
"I don't want students to lose
faith in SGA," said Woychex. "I
feel SGA is headed in a positive
direction."
Woycheck was still considering
his options and debating his
actions up until Tuesday night,
the night before announcing his
resignation at SGA’s weekly
meeting. He says that his
unexpected co-op extension into
the school year was too good an
opportunity to pass up.
“This summer co-op in MIS...
changed my career aspirations
and... goals,” he said. “I really
wanted to contribute to the life of
Penn State Behrend. I am very
reluctant to step down, but I do
believe it is necessary.”
At the SGA meeting,
Woycheck expressed a desire to
continue his participation in the
student governing body, in a
position carrying less burden.
Commuter Council President
Steve Landon moved to accept
Woycheck into one of the two
vacant Commuter Senator seats.
The motion passed unanimously.
Academic performance comes
before extra-curricular activities
for Woycheck. He had to retake
control of his slipping grades.
“I really had to determine where
mv priorities were.” he said. “I
Dr. Christopher Reber, Dean of Student
Affairs at Penn State-Behrend, disagrees.
“While there should be significant student
involvement we should be involving
faculty and staff to encourage continuity.”
Reber expects that once guidelines are
approved by the implementation
committee, a campus committee will be
formed to make specific recommendations
to the Dean of the College.
Dr. Lilley would have the final decision
on how student activities funds are
distributed.
officials.
The campus committee is expected to be
composed of at least fifty percent students,
Reber says. Those students serving on that
committee would probably be selected by
the Student Affairs staff.
Lourdes Tirado, Multi-Cultural Council
(MCC) President, feels that once
The Behrend College
implementation committee because he
feels control should automatically go to
the student governing organizations. “It is
important to the development of a
responsible student government at Penn
State.”
Photo by Joe Stiler/Photo Editor
Changes tor SGA Mike Woycheck resigned as SGA president Wednesday night because
of an overload of responsibilities
made every effort possible to
balance [co-op, classes, and
SGA], Unfortunately, I couldn’t
find a way...”
According to Dean of Student
Affairs, Dr. Chris Reber, “Mike
has left no stone unturned,” in
his search for a way to balance
his schedule.
In his last words to SGA,
Woycheck thanked the Senate for
its continuous cooperation. He
also thanked Dr. Reber, Director
of Student Activities Dr. Chris
Rizzo, and Teiyl Shields, Rizzo’s
former assistant, for their
unanimously
guidelines are established, SGA should
have the final word on allnrqtinnq, “SGA
has already been elected to represent
student interests in these matters and there
is really no reason to form yet another
body to do the job SGA is already
supposed to.”
"It is important to the
development of a
responsible student
government at Penn
State.”
Ben Novak
--Board of Trustees
He called his experience as
SGA president one of his most
valuable experiences ever.
“This is a time when the SGA
has to come together... this is a
critical time,” he said.
The SGA Constitution
provides for vacancies on the
Executive Board with a secret
ballot election among members,
to be held within three weeks of
the vacancy. After long
discussion, SGA decided to hold
the election on Wednesday,
October 4, during their weekly
meeting.
HU/hjuu.jir _ *fi a __ M *u
VoIXL/V, No. 3
be able to pick up where I left
off," said Woychex. "SGA will
remain the voice of the students."
The seat is open to candidates
within the student body who are
currently in their fifth, or later,
semester at Behrend. Resumes,
along with visions for SGA, will
be accepted in the Student
Activities office until 5:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, October 4.
Candidates must be present at the
meeting that night
The presidency is currendy up
in the air. Vice-President Miller
declined the appointment,
accepting only for the interim.
Chad Clouse, a sixth semester English
major, feels that programs and activities
should be funded based on student interest
and participation. “[Some things] should
be funded in some other way since few, if
any, students listen to or participate in
[some currently funded programs],” Clouse
said.
Renee Lucas, a first semester student in
the Division of Undergraduate Studies,
feds that the SGA should be the deciding
body in how the student activities, funds
are spent.
“How much do faculty and staff really
participate in student activities, how do
they know what we want, what we need?
They go home at the end of the day,”
Lucas said.
She continues, “If a faculty or staff
member feels they have an idea/program
that merits funding they can make a
proposal to SGA, but they [faculty and
staff] should not have any real control or
vote in how the money is spent.”
see FEE on page 3