Eastern Michigan University’s Student Government hired its Executive Board for the 2013-2014 school years, merging the positions of director of political action and director of diversity into that of the new director of social justice position.
Student Body President Desmond Miller and Vice President Nino Monea recently hired the new staff.
Adam Reid, an EMU senior majoring in public relations and minoring in political science, was hired as the director of communications.
His job entails working with the press, keeping up with the SG website and making sure the students stay informed. Reid said his job also includes making sure the students have a voice.
“Making sure you have that open communication, the two-way communication,” Reid said. “Not only that we make sure students know what is going on, students are going to be able to express their opinions to us and make sure we know exactly what they want.”
He said he wants to bring open dialogue to EMU, and he is qualified due to his public relations background and communication with the media.
“I think there are a lot of tough conversations that need to happen,” Reid said. “Those conversations come up and I think I really want to make those conversations happen and make sure they happen in a very productive way.”
EMU student double-majoring in women’s and gender studies and literature, Eden Zimak, was appointed the SG clerk.
As clerk, her duties include recording minutes and making sure what goes on in SG is made public.
Zimak said that initially she wasn’t going to get too involved with anything campus-related outside of educational purposes but changed her mind.
“I think that’s what has made the difference,” she said. “That’s what has kept me at Eastern.”
She said she is qualified due to her efficiency, and that her job as clerk is important because she feels like the glue keeping everyone and everything connected.
Dinah Nasari, an EMU senior majoring in criminology with a focus in legal studies and obtaining a minor in sociology, is the director of student relations.
Nasari helps plan programs, attends student organization meetings to hear the desires of the students and conduct surveys around campus to gather information from the students regarding their needs and concerns.
Nasari said she was always involved in high school, but she just wanted to focus on studying when she reached college.
During her sophomore year, Nasari then decided to join many clubs and organizations. She said she kept seeing fliers and emails to apply for SG and decided to do so.
Nasari was vice president of her graduating class in high school three years in a row and is the president of the African Student Association at EMU.
She said because of her experience with a variety of clubs and organizations, she understands what students need in more than one area.
“I want to help people whichever way I can,” Nasari said.
Miller said Student Government is important because students can voice their concerns.
Monea also agreed, “We’re the only group on campus that is entirely made up of students and working on behalf of students. I think it’s really important that students have a place to go where they know that there’s going to be people like them who understand the same problems.”
Miller said he was looking for people who were right for the positions and who were not just looking for a job but wanted to help students at EMU and work for the students. He also said the new staff will bring positive energy and a lot of efforts to help move students forward.
EMU executive director of government and community relations, Leigh Greden, will be taking on the role of the SG adviser at the end of July. The current adviser, Assistant Vice President of Student Life Glenna Frank Miller, will be retiring.
Greden said SG is the voice of students.
“Student Government allocates student activity funds, advocates with university administration for causes important to students and provides valuable learning opportunities for student leaders,” he said.
Greden said although he has only met a few of the incoming staff, he knows many of the senators.
“I am confident that they will all work hard and in unity to ensure that Student Government offers interesting programming, an effective voice for students on student issues, and an efficient operation for student organizations that rely on Student Government for financial and operational support,” he said.
Greden also said he promotes open communication between SG members and to stay focused on the big picture.
“Student Government is public service,” Geden said. “Many elected officials at all levels become bogged down in internal in-fighting which yields nothing and wastes valuable time. Student government officials have one year in office — I urge them to make it count by maintaining a pro-active and positive agenda.”
Director of Student Relations:
Dinah Nasari
Director of Business and Finance: Ben Harrington
Director of Social Justice:
Ashley Kerby
Director of Services and Events: Aurelle Ratkovich
Director of Communications:
Adam Reid
Clerk:
Eden Zimak
Judicial Sergeant:
Alex Bibeau
Speaker of the Senate:
Nto Mbeng Agbor
