Student Senate recognizes org leadership on campus
Caitlin Brien
Features Editor
Representatives from numerous Carroll College student organizations gathered Sunday, April 27 in the Ballroom to celebrate accomplishments from the school year.
The banquet, which has been an annual event put on by Student Senate for over a dozen years, commenced at 5pm with a short note from Student Senate President Marti Teske, who introduced President Hastad.
President Hastad, Chief Student Affairs Officer Dr. Celestino Limas, Director of Student Activities Elizabeth Brzeski, and Student Senate Advisor Patrick Peyer all took a few minutes to reflect on the purpose of the banquet and the year ahead, but with widely different messages.
Where President Hastad focused on the importance of a united college in which students are “stakeholders” in the outcomes of the institution, Dr. Limas recognized some of the communicative shortcomings of the administration this year, and ended by challenging the student leaders in attendance to “reach out to the students who aren’t here…who aren’t in your meetings.” Elizabeth Brzeski then thanked the students for “making [her] job special” and for the outstanding year.
The somewhat undeclared focus on what could be considered a lack of involvement by students on campus was exacerbated by the anticipated number in attendance of over one hundred resulting in an actual attendance of closer to fifty.
The most moving part of the night however came when Assistant Dean of Students Patrick Peyer took over the microphone. The specifics of his gradual “transition out” of Carroll College elicited tears from some student members of the audience, and his last “thank you” prompted an involuntary emotional response from most of the crowd.
The banquet continued with a thanks from Rev. Bill Humphreys for students willingness “to be recruited [for student leadership],” followed by a short prayer before attendees were treated to a taco bar. After the meal and some light socializing, the awards were announced.
Student orgs had the opportunity to equally apply for the title of Best College-Wide Event, Most Improved Org, Most Fiscally Responsible, the Pioneer Award of Excellence, and the Service Award. Executive members of organizations could also nominate the group’s advisor for the Advisor Award. Applications were reviewed by Student Senate.
This year, winners included Delta Rho Upsilon with The Pioneer Award of Excellence, Sigma Delta Pi with Most Fiscally Responsible, and LASO with Best Service Organization. The new award this year for Best Advisor was given to both Elizabeth Brzeski for her work with the College Activities Board and Dr. Robert Black with Sigma Delta Pi.
While there is an “unconscious effort” according to Peyer to evenly distribute the awards, to ensure that larger organizations don’t have an advantage, two student orgs have really stood out the past two years.
Colleges Against Cancer and Anime Club, both relatively new to campus, have both won awards the past two years running. Colleges Against Cancer won Best College-Wide Event for their second consecutive year, and Anime Club won Most Improved Organization after having won Most Fiscally responsible in the previous year.
The banquet was one of few opportunities the college has to say thanks to its students. “It shows that involvement is valued, and that’s a critical piece,” noted Peyer.