The Elm Student Newspaper
Newly elected SGA officers soon to take office
Dawn Taute
New SGA President Penny Tilghman and
Vice President Ross Radish and friends
pose for a picture during their post
election celebration.
Tom Palazzo, Elm photographer
Two weeks ago, Washington College students elected the new Student Government executive committee for the 2001-2002 academic year. The new officers - Penny Tilghman as President, Ross Radish as Vice President, Tom Palazzo as Treasurer, and Kat Bennett as Secretary - will officially take office April 17 and continue through Spring 2002. All the new officers are extremely excited and ready to take office, make changes, and reinforce current concepts.
"I intend to contribute my hard work and dedication to the SGA," said President-elect Tilghman. "I have been given the responsibility and privilege to represent my peers and bring forth their concerns to the administration and various boards. I am confident that next year will be a very productive year."
Secretary Kat Bennett also shared Tilghman's excitement. "I'm excited about being Secretary because I can actually do stuff now," said Bennett.
"Before, I was just sorting mail, but now I'm glad because I can get policies going and make changes.""The expectations that I have for myself are to be able to serve the student body with the wit, grace and overall candor of the former presidents," said Tilghman. "Not to mention that I intend to bring my own unique brand of leadership to the table, which consists of passion, practicality, and humility."
Treasurer Tom Palazzo also shared his impressions of being a new officer.
"My fellow officers and I will do our best to improve life at Washington College," said Palazzo. "My goals, as well as the goals of the administration on the financial side of the SGA are to make sure that there are no debts, that clubs get their money, and that student life is enjoyable."The officers also shed light on certain areas of interest they would like to address in their administration. Each highlighted different issues they would like to solve during their time as officers.
"I will do all I can do to further student interests on campus and continue to work on increased communications between the faculty and student body," said Vice-president Radish. "One idea I have to help spur this development would be to hold open forums for students, faculty, and the administration once a year. This will be an interesting process to watch develop over the year."
Bennett said, "Hopefully, I'll make a lot of changes. No soap in the dorm bathrooms has always been a pet peeve of mine and only RA's provide it. I've done research on how much soap costs and found out that it is a law that all public restrooms have hand soap." Bennett added, "Another issue is the idea of handicap accessibility. People have been trying about it all year to get more accessibility. We just have to keep pushing the issue and don't let it die."
She also commented on the pay scale of Washington College staff and making the secretarial position more visible.
Palazzo also contributed several goals for the administration. "I hope to continue my work as treasurer by paying off the remaining Earth Day 2000 debt as well as the new Birthday Ball 2001 debt," said Palazzo.
"In addition, I will work my hardest to continue to fund our student organizations as much as possible.""This year, the WC community has been faced with many issues, which call for incremental actions and considerable review," said Tilghman.
"To name a few, the issue concerning the Hubley and Masembe decision, the issue of sustaining a diversified education (i.e. strengthening and sustaining the Music and Language Departments, and more recently the English Department), making sure that the Western Shore dorms and other buildings on campus are handicap accessible, and the very important issue of reconnecting with the student body."Tilghman also encourages everyone to attend the SGA's regular weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. to voice their concerns.
"Aside from the issues of making sure that WC stays a teaching and enlightening community, I feel that one of the most primary issues that my administration will take is the issue of campus morale and re-establishing the bonds of our student body community," said Tilghman. "In order to lay the framework for this goal, we, as in the SGA, must improve student input at all levels."
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