During the Student Government Association Senate meeting on Feb. 18, senators and SGA executives welcomed senators for the upcoming term and offered words of encouragement to senators old and new alike.
SGA President Dane Block challenged senators to be active in all areas of life, to be gentle so they may understand the beliefs of others and to be purposeful in their actions.
“To leave this room and to not get to interact with you all in this setting, … it is bittersweet,” Block said. “I’m super excited for the next group, but I’m really sad to leave you all.”
Max Zinner, graduate school senator, urged incoming senators to avoid groupthink behavior and listen to the wants and needs of their constituents.
“It’s not your job to toe any party line, any SGA line, any executive line,” Zinner said. “Your job is to represent your college.”
Sully Jeter, at-large senator, encouraged the newcomers to not try to fit into the mold of the previous Senate body and be themselves.
“I know that we all kind of have different areas that we come from,” Jeter said. "Own up to that and understand that that’s why you’re here and use those areas of influence.”
SGA Vice President Schyler Burney said she believed the outgoing Senate body was one of the most hardworking groups she has seen. She thanked the senators and student liaisons for all of their work over the past year and instructed them to give up their seats for their replacements before closing the meeting.
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