At the SGA transition on Thursday night in the UC, outgoing SGA executive board members passed the student-government baton to the newly elected board.
Outgoing members Laura Nishida, Corey Hipps and Jamie Lonie welcomed in new SGA President Tommy Jervis, new SGA Vice President Angie Sessoms and new SGA Student Services Director Avery Howard.
Jervis started his speech by thanking Nishida, Hipps and Lonie, who he said gave him a taste for student government.
He also thanked everyone who participated in the Fuse campaign from November to March. He said they let Fuse “blow up their e-mail box” and constantly kept the word out about the party by wearing Fuse T-shirts around campus, among other things.
“That was my biggest hesitation doing this, running for president or anything,” Jervis said. “Who would work alongside us? Who would want to work alongside us? And you guys really showed the gratitude, and I’m really appreciative of all of you.”
The new SGA passed resolution 0-111, recognizing all the accomplishments of the 2009-2010 SGA, which Jervis said, among other things, included: implementing a virtual suggestion box, upgrading vending machines, installing cameras in parking garages to ensure safety and enabling UT students to choose between Gmail and Microsoft Live e-mail.
Former SGA President Nishida said every word she heard about SGA over the last year either encouraged or inspired her.
“Each positive comment I hear about SGA, I take to heart with a smile on my face,” she said. “And each critique I hear makes me want to work even harder and let those who will be coming and stepping into our places next year know that this is what they should pay attention to. I know Tommy, Angie and Avery will do everything they can to take Corey, Jamie and myself’s hard work to the next level. And bring new ideas and programs to the plate.”
New Graduate Student Senate President Andrew Morse and new GSS Vice President Colin Spaulding were also sworn in, and GSS outstanding members Susan Sutton, graduate student in education, and Houston Johnson, graduate student in history, were recognized.
The event also recognized, among other honors, SGA outstanding members — Avery Howard and Ross Rowland.
The SGA transition ended with Jervis announcing his list of appointments and nominees for positions. The nominees will be voted upon at the next SGA meeting on April 13.