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9.13.04 From left, SGA Treasurer Patrick Martin, Corresponding Secretary Catherine Tolbert, Vice President Caroline Williams, Recording Secretary Casey Frontz, and President David Dangerfield. Student leaders rely on teamwork Erskine College senior David Dangerfield, a history major from Moncks Corner, announced when he was sworn in as Student Government Association (SGA) president in April that he ran for the office "because I want to make a difference." Now a new academic year has begun, and dozens of organizational leaders and officers who are also interested in making a difference gathered for a leadership retreat in Watkins Student Center Sept. 4. Dangerfield and others who attended that meeting have been considering some ways in which SGA can make a difference at Erskine College. He agreed to be interviewed for Netnews to spotlight student leadership on the campus. Do you have a vision for SGA this year? As a senior, you have a lot of experience and perhaps you are hoping to set a direction that might continue after you are gone. Definitely. Our biggest goal this year is to strengthen the Student Senate and the voice of the student body. We have always had a great senate, but we haven’t always had great communication. We plan to take steps this year toward better communication with both the student body and the administration. What are some of your plans to accomplish this? It means creating more lines of communication. For example, years ago Erskine College had the "Roundtable." This was made up of the college president, the SGA president, the academic and student deans, etc. This year we will have the Roundtable again; the exact makeup will be slightly different. It will likely be the college president, SGA president, Student Life Council Chairman Corey Chapman, and a few others. We hope that with such steps we can increase the voice of the student body as they are informed and can express concerns and positive ideas. I hope that when I leave, SGA will continue to build its ability to respond to student concerns and help improve the college. I really want to see more people get involved this year. We are sending out the agenda before meetings and we will continue to encourage involvement in SGA from any and every student. What are some other new and different things that are happening with SGA and student leadership this year? Well … in a continued effort to improve Student Senate we are going to start with a different setting. We are going to meet in the Science Center Auditorium. The meetings are still at 9 on Monday nights, but we hope the auditorium will be more of a "senate-like" atmosphere. We also have a Web site that is nearly complete at sga.erskine.edu that I am really excited about. It already has access to SGA minutes, The Pilot Student Handbook, and ways to contact the SGA officers and senators. Who are the officers assisting you this year? The SGA officers are great. Each member of the cabinet brings a unique gift to the table, and for that I am truly thankful. Caroline Williams, the vice president, has done a tremendous job as a motivator, in organizing elections, and her dedication is inspiring. Patrick Martin, treasurer, is extremely precise in carrying out his duties. And both secretaries, Catherine Tolbert and Casey Frontz, have been solid in their willingness to serve at every opportunity. The student body should be proud to have elected such servants with such a pool of talent. Would you explain how SCA and SGA work together? The Student Christian Association is a student organization chartered by the SGA. We work together, along with the Erskine Entertainment Board (EEB) and the Intersociety Council, on many occasions in the organizing of student activities. For example, on Sept. 18, SGA, SCA, and EEB are sponsoring a Triathlon. That means we'll take any student who wants to go, and travel to Anderson. There we'll partake in the celebrated college version of a triathlon — pizza, skating (maybe bowling, we are still trying to see what kind of deal we can get), and a movie. We also work closely with Mila Wilmoth. She is president of the Erskine Entertainment Board and has done a tremendous job with that position. Whenever we needed them during freshman orientation they were there. Mila is another one of those people with a passion to serve. What motivates you to devote time to leadership at Erskine? My motivation continues to be my friendships with my classmates. I truly love the people at Erskine and, like other student leaders, that love drives me to serve. I never expected to be SGA President — I always thought it would be Beau Noblitt (last year’s SGA vice president). In fact, I think that's what everyone expected. But Beau was set to be married. When I found out that he wasn't going to run for the office I knew that I needed to step up. Now that you've stepped up, how do you see your role developing? Well, I don’t know how to say this, but it's not about me. I am glad to see an article about SGA and student leadership. I worry sometimes that the people who offer so much help and support don't get the credit that they deserve. For example, we were able to solve an issue early this year about student parking fees — and it was a team effort. Caroline Williams (SGA vice president) and Emily Scism (editor of The Mirror) played a big role in helping solve the problem. I am continually in contact with two past SGA presidents, Laura Williams and Caroline Culp. Their experience and advice are a blessing. I also think that it speaks of their continued dedication, that they are willing to give of their time to help SGA even now as alumni. Are there others on campus who help you? Like I said earlier, the SGA officers are awesome and they bring their own talents. And again, René Marshall, SCA president, and Mila Wilmoth should also be commended for the work they do for the campus. I think if you asked any student leader they would tell you that they are not able to do their job alone — the teamwork is what really gets the jobs done. And, there are a couple of people on campus who are not student leaders, but pour themselves into helping the students. Brooke Clinton and Randy Moore never get the credit that they deserve. Brooke is the backbone of every single student organization. She directs, she challenges, she encourages, and she simply gets the job done, often from behind the scenes. Randy Moore works for Aramark, but daily he goes out of his way for students. At the last minute he can put together a reception or help us with a fund-raiser or prizes for a student activity — and even then he wants to know what else he can do to help. Student Leadership here at EC could never do what it has been able to do without people like those two individuals. What about your own plans? What does a history major with student government experience do for a career? I am a history major, but I have absolutely no idea what I want to do when I leave Erskine. Did I mention that I don’t want to leave? I have thought and prayed about law school, but I am not sure that is what God has in store for me. God is working in my life, but He just hasn't let me in on the plan yet. |
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