SGA President Mahone introduces new administration and says goodbye to old
Newly-elected Student Government Association President Charles Mahone quickly shook away his first meeting jitters as he ushered in a new era of SGA at the Trustees-Student Liaison meeting Wednesday.
Mahone, along with SGA Vice President Mariah Urueta, Former SGA President Marie Reimers, Former RHA President Eric Ostrowski and new RHA President David Burney, spoke to Central Michigan University's Board of Trustees during the last Student Liaison meeting of the semester.
The student leaders introduced themselves and told the board what they hope to accomplish.
This was the first time Mahone has been to the liaison meeting, a meeting that is set aside the day before the regular trustees meeting so students can have a chance to voice their concerns.
“For the first 15 seconds, I was a little nervous opening up the meeting with the trustees,” Mahone said. “But after that, everything was great. I enjoyed talking to the trustees.”
Mahone has been part of SGA and Residence Life since his freshman year at CMU, stating it was his dream from the beginning to one day become SGA president.
After congratulating Mahone on his election victory, Reimers highlighted SGA accomplishments under her administration.
Among Reimers' successes, SGA extended the Bovee University Center hours to 1 a.m., created allergy stations in the campus dining areas, helped create veterans honors cords for student veterans to wear during graduation and compiled a complete SGA roster of its members for the first time in three years.
The group also worked with CMU Police Department to develop a deeper sense of sensitivity while handling sexual assault notices . Reimers said her leadership helped move campus programing fund lobbying efforts to the forefront of the trustees' conversation.
Trustee Robert Wardrop II thanked Reimers for her service and everything she did for CMU.
“We’re always proud of our (student) president,” Wardrop said. “They do a great job, and they always go on to great things.”
Mahone also thanked Reimers for what she accomplished in SGA.
“Everything we do will be built on the foundation you laid for us,” Mahone said.
Mahone told the board what he and Urueta plan on accomplishing during his term, focusing on what students want from their representatives.
One of the office’s platforms is being more visible to the other student group so students know what SGA does for them.
Mahone plans on meeting and talking with a different student organization every week to get a better understanding of what students want to be done on their behalf.
“You only really make a connection with someone if you can make that handshake,” Mahone said. “We’re hoping by extending that olive branch we can increase SGA’s presence and help foster growth in the RSOs and Greek community.”
