|
Sween talks experience, action
By Ryan Sibinski
 Brett Sween and Desiree Westby will lead student government as president and vice-president, respectively, this year.
|
|
SCSU senior Brett Sween appears to be to be your average student around campus. He is from Pine City, Minn., and likes to hunt, fish and 'just hang out.'
But he also is concerned with what the students want.
Sween, an accounting and communication studies major, happens to be the new leading voice of the SCSU student government, otherwise known as student body president.
The students elected him president, along with vice-president Desiree Westby last spring, and after spending his summer working as an intern for an accounting firm, he is ready to start his duties this fall semester.
Brett has previous experience working on the student government. As a freshman, he worked as a senator-at-large, his sophomore year he chaired the finance committee for a semester, and last year he was a senator of the College of Business.
As president, this year he would like to see some changes.
"Last year we spent a lot of time focusing on issues that pop up, especially diversity, but as far as things that actually came out of the government, I was disappointed," Sween said.
"We didn't do a lot proactively to advance the university and help the students that were here. We had good ideas but weren't able to see them out to completion. That is one of the reasons Desiree and myself entered into the race (for presidency) is that we hope to change that and bring forth some new policy.
"We hope to communicate better between administrators, faculty and the students on campus, and create a dialog about ways to make the University better for everyone."
Sween says his main concern will be issues that the students bring to their attention. He says the goals that the student government wants to obtain are the goals of the students. He encourages students to come by the student government office in Atwood with any questions or problems.
"When students have issues, we would like to get them involved, especially if groups of students have similar concerns and work together on things, that's when we really have the ability to get things done," he said.
Brett stresses the importance of student participation. He would like to see greater involvement in elections, both student and national.
"We're going to be making an effort to get people to vote in this fall's senate elections," he said. "I'd also like to see more voting in the campus elections and we're going to be making an effort to keep students informed."
There are also several positions open for students looking to join in student government this year.
"We are looking for qualified, strong people that are committed to student issues, and are interested in it, and can bring their ideas," Sween said on Thursday's internal elections.
The student government will have internal elections at its first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12. Applications for many positions are being taken this week until Wednesday at noon, including seven open committee chairs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
