While the race for U.S. president continues, a new president has taken office and is ready to begin work.
SGA President Caresse Bucchan has settled into her role and wants to start her term by improving campus technological resources and communication.
“Sometimes I feel like [students] don’t have all the information,” she said.
Bucchan said she thinks awareness of campus events is not as high as it should be because of a lack of resources for students to use.
Answers to this deficiency are almost ready for students. Bucchan said the creation of OrgSync.com, a web site designed to help student organizations stay connected with others and convey information to members, is the most effective option for students.
Bucchan said she would rather send people online than have them huddled around a bulletin board to find information they need.
The international studies and psychology major also said she would like students to go wireless in another way—printing.
“We just have to make sure [these privileges] aren’t abused,” Bucchan said. “It just takes a few people to spoil them for the rest of us.”
But Bucchan’s focus also remains in the present.
She said she is impressed by the new University Center and looks forward to its opening in October. Inspired by its environmentally friendly facilities, Bucchan said she hopes to integrate such designs into campus life.
These practices would include asking faculty to consider online submission of papers rather than hard copies and putting more recycling bins in more locations.
“Good or bad, these decisions will affect our life,” she said. “You don’t need to work hard to help the environment.”
But adding resources is just one step for a more unified campus, she said. There still needs to be a personal approach.
“There are people and groups who fall through the gaps,” Bucchan said, “and I want to bridge those gaps wherever they are.”
To do this, Bucchan said she would like to create leadership workshops where groups can take part in activities and connect with each other.
“Because if you can get the leaders, you will get the followers,” she said.
Bucchan would also like to see SGA increase the amount of collaboration between students and administration in order to show students exactly what SGA can do for them.
In the past, she said, methods have ranged from planning SGA events to asking for input on which tiles and carpet to put in residence halls.
“I want people to say, ‘Student government did this for us,’” she said.
Raising awareness also includes educational programs for students, Bucchan said. In light of his alcohol-related arrest this summer, President Stephen Jennings and Bucchan hope to reform a dated alcohol education program.
Bucchan said past programs have been ineffective, and a revamped, non-judgmental program would help deter students from repeating mistakes similar to Jennings’.
Although planning for the program is still in its early stages, Bucchan said she hopes to finish by the end of the year.
“It’s something we’re definitely going to work hard on,” she said.
Bucchan said her confidence comes from support from UE administration and a good working relationship with her vice president, junior Matt Krall.
She said working with Krall only completes the package.
“I know how he works, and he knows how I work,” she said. “The best part is his openness. He’s just so personable.”
Bucchan said she is pleased that she and Krall already have the same philosophy to work by and get things accomplished.
“It’s not necessarily what you plan, but what you follow through on,” she said. “And if we don’t have the answers, then we will find the answers.”
