€E On ITS The Lion’s Eye March 2, 2011 S.A i I It OT NOBODY'S ELECTION There are several names on the Brandywine Campus which all students, especially student leaders, usu- ally know because of their work and service to the campus community. Brittney Walker, last year’s Student Government Association (SGA) president made herself known, and even if you didn’t know her name, any Brandywine student could point her out in an event. Most people know Martina Gill, the president of THON and others could recognize some of the students that served as Orientation Leaders throughout the summer, such as Joel Koshy and Jonathan Voigt. In the past, students like Carolyn Johnson, Ashley Wood and Bernice Irby made a name for themselves by. the positions they held on campus and how closely they worked with the campus community. The students mentioned above and many other student leaders have sacrificed their time and energy to ensure a better commuter college experience for their peers. They have strived to be the best they could be and to do the best they could on behalf of the student body. In the past year at Brandywine, however, the same kind of recognition has not been attached to student leader- ~ ship, especially with regard to SGA. Last spring, a vicious battle unfolded between three parties who were running to fill positions in the SGA. The Pride Party, led by presidential candidate Jerry Fokas under the slogan “Fokas on Pride”, came out on top in the end. The Pride Party was sworn into office during the Student Leadership Awards Ceremony at the end of the spring 2010 semester, and since then has disappeared from view of the campus community. Unlike presidents past, Jerry Fokas has been virtually unseen for most of the semester as the SGA President. Fokas seems to be detached from other organiza- : tions on campus by not attending their events and not attending some of the monthly Council of Club Presidents (CCP) meetings, and has also canceled several SGA Sound Offs, which are monthly meetings held to give and receive information from the student body. How are you supposed to connect with the campus if you cancel the very meet- ings that allow you to have one-on-one time with your peers? And unless you were involved in the Athletics Department, Vice President Bobbi Caprice and Treasurer Vinny Gallo are also hard to find. Neither Caprice nor Gallo attended events such as the MLK Day of Service, that was held on campus in January and both are rarely around to get to know students better. As for Secretary Stephanie Tracy, most students come up clueless when the name was mentioned. The Pride Party’s 2010 Intent to Run form listed several objectives which they intended to focus on during their time in office. These objectives included improv- ing school spirit, getting more faculty and students involved, making students want to stay on campus during common hour, ensuring an environmentally friendly campus, keeping the campus diverse, relocating the school store, and improving communication between the SGA and the student body. Reviewing their party objectives leaves a sense disappointment and frustration because almost none of what they promised the student By The Lion's Eye Penn State Brandywine’s 2010-2011 Student Government. Front row (left to right): Vinny Gallo, Treasurer; Bobbi Caprice, Vice President; Steph Tracy, Treasurer; Melissa Creely, Community Service Coordinator; Shari Mitchell, Diversity Affairs Chair; Brian Loch, Public Relations Officer Back row: Matthew Shupp, Adviser; Chris Brown, Academic Affairs Chair; Kristy Crystle, Events Coordinator, Jerry Fokas, Presi- dent; Danice Reid, Information Technology Officer; Jomela Dutt, Student Affairs Chair Not pictured, Stephen latesta, Governmental Affairs Chair body was done. : Faculty, staff and students did become more involved on campus, but not be- cause of SGA. Throughout the semester there was an overwhelming amount of support from everyone for programs such as “Cash for Curls”, “Chance Auction and Spaghetti Dinner”, “Date Auction”, and “Office Penny Wars” which were all sponsored by the campus’ chapter of THON. The Brandywine THON Overall Committee had the goal in mind to get more participation from the campus community and did so by reaching out to everyone. How did the SGA accomplish their goals they set forth last year when they campaigned so vigorously? Fokas and his board recently voted on revamping their constitution, by adding a Senate, allowing for more student involvement in the organization. With no student involvement currently on campus however, how on earth are they going to be able to muster up 50 students to serve on the Senate? If the Brandywine community wants any change in the upcoming year, we need our leaders to step up and take the challenge. Otherwise, Brandywine may be in for another year of surprises, or lack thereof. People Poll with Katie Koelewyn What are you doing for Spring Break? Sig John Formento Senior “Work” Maria Asslanian Freshman “I guess just hanging out with friends” Megan Gilroy Joel Tdicnia Zz posh: | : Sophomore Probably going to “Maybe going to Florida” Florida”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers