As The Eagle wraps up its last issue of the semester, its editorial board turns to the yearly task of grading members of the Student Government on their performance and offering recommendations and suggestions for next year's incoming officers. Without further ado, here are the verdicts.
Ashley Mushnick, SG President: A-
Charged with the difficult task of leading AU following the Ben Ladner embezzlement scandal, SG President Ashley Mushnick has done an excellent job holding the campus together. Accessible, friendly and communicative, Mushnick more or less practiced and preached a welcome policy of SG transparency. In her time as president, Mushnick campaigned to increase student awareness of off-campus housing options. She also accomplished her plan to keep Bender Library open 24 hours, effective next fall.
Incoming SG President Joe Vidulich -- no stranger to the SG -- should continue Mushnick's tradition of openness and transparency. He should be just as personable as Mushnick, try to further his predecessor's work with off-campus housing options and Health Center accessibility and continue his work with the Blue Crew to promote campus unity.
Pat McGill, SG Vice President, B
SG Vice President Pat McGill earned a record of mixed results for his primary duty, programming. Although Founder's Day was a major success, Spring Fling (hoe-down and all) seemed rather juvenile and ill-prepared. Event turnouts were consistently mixed, and though McGill did his best to promote campus activities, the events themselves often seemed lacking.
Maintaining McGill's strong work ethic should be Vice President-elect Jeff Hanley's first priority. Hanley, the outgoing Residence Hall Association president, must communicate with other university organizations and publications, not to mention the student body, more effectively if he wants to encourage student involvement. He also needs to revive Spring Fling, making it bigger, more interesting and much more fun.
Carrie Johnson, SG Secretary: A
Secretary Johnson did an excellent job communicating with the university. Her e-mail newsletters were helpful and informative, and her organizational skills were impeccable. Johnson completely revamped the office of secretary and streamlined things her predecessor, president-elect Vidulich, didn't do as effectively.
The campus seems to have high hopes for her replacement, Alex Manzanares. His platform throughout SG elections was impressive and engaging, and it should be interesting to see if he can maintain it in the upcoming year. Building from Johnson's successes, Manzanares should advertise and communicate with the university even more, expanding SG efforts to the Facebook and maintaining the office's effective e-mail newsletter system.
Robert Donigian, SG Comptroller: C
Much like Donigian's predecessor, an appropriate question about his time in office is "Comptroller who?" Despite the campus' recent financial troubles, including the SG time sheet and Ladner embezzlement controversies, Donigian did very little to increase transparency of the university's fiduciary processes. He was not very responsive to budgetary inquiries, either. Overall, Donigian may have done great things for AU, we just do not know what those things may have been.
Incoming Comptroller David Teslicko has quite a bit of work to do. He must increase transparency of SG money matters and communicate those matters with the university more often. No stranger to the SG (Teslicko helped whip AUTO into shape), he needs to apply his strong work ethic to the office of comptroller.
Taylor Robinson, Kennedy Political Union: B
KPU's reputation was somewhat tarnished this year by two last-minute cancellations by high-profile speakers. Robinson ended the year on a high note, though, with the panel of George Stephanopoulos, John Bolton and James Carville.
Incoming director Amanda Fulton should bring in more speakers and also work on advertising more so that all members of the campus community can prepare for the events.
JoAnna Smith, Women's Initiative: A
Smith has exponentially expanded Women's Initiative's programming and reach on campus this year. Condom machines in the dorms, HIV testing, HPV vaccines and the always popular Breastival were just a few events that drew in members from all areas of the campus community. Her dedication to the position should be an example to all SG execs.
Incoming director Vanessa C. Mueller, a former Eagle arts editor, should have no trouble maintaining the high level of programming that Smith instituted. Her dedication to everything she does should make everyone feel good about leaving the position in her hands.
George Eveleth, Student Union Board: A
Although SUB could have used a bit more advertising, the quality of shows and movies they put on more than made up for it. Shows by Ted Leo, Ben Kweller, Snow Patrol, Phantom Planet and Ben Folds had great turnouts and SUB Cinema always brought popular, recently released movies. Other than a few more flyers, AU couldn't have asked anything more from SUB.
Shea Mulcahy, the incoming director, should have no trouble continuing the high quality of all the SUB programming. He worked as one of Eveleth's deputies this year, so he's got a good background in quality SUB programming.
David Teslicko, AUTO: A
Teslicko has done an outstanding job last year and this year to improve the quality of AUTO services. Club use of the vans has increased dramatically, and Teslicko continued popular Target and airport runs. Though, like SUB, AUTO could have used more advertising.
Teslicko's successor (to be confirmed in the fall) has the benefit of stepping into an already well-organized system. There have been reports that demand for AUTO vans and the new bike program has exceeded available vehicles. The new AUTO commissioner should work on getting more vehicles.
Jaci Pulice, Eagle Nights: B+
Although Eagle Nights overall seemed pretty good, the fact that they are held every week makes some ideas seem strained. Attendance was good overall, with big jumps for events offering free food.
John Eric Lingat, the new director, should work on bringing in some fresh ideas so that the events don't seem stale by midterms. Any events with food, even if students had to pay a small fee or use a meal swipe, would be more than welcome on a campus with such limited dining options.
