2008 Woodie Awards
Student Government President Moran to resign at summer's end
Lyons, vice president, third in a row to assume presidency without student vote
Heather Steeves
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: News
James Lyons, the vice president of Student Government (SG) is about to become the third student body president in a row who was not given the position by a student vote - a fact he is not pleased with.
"It bothers me just as much, if not more, as an average student, but in this particular instance I don't see any way around it - but I'm open to suggestions," Lyons said.
Lyon's presidency is a result of current SG president, Steve Moran's resignation.
Moran was accepted to the University of Maine's higher education program where he will work with student organizations as a graduate assistant. "It will allow me to move forward in a new capacity," Moran said. "Sometimes opportunities present themselves and you have to consider what will benefit you as a person." Moran's original plan was to finish his presidential term by taking an additional major in history.
"Ultimately, you need to stop being a student and go on to other things in your life," Lyons said he is sad Moran is leaving, but is confident he can take his place. "I realize that me having the seat means someone who was doing a very good job has to leave," Lyons said.
Outside of cleaning up what he described as "messy circumstances," Lyons said he is not prepared to discuss plans for next semester until he has run them by his executive board.
Because Lyons is interning with the Minority Staff of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Washington DC for the summer, Moran decided to retain his presidency until Aug. 15, when Lyons returns to Maine.
Moran's resignation means four of the five executive board members will be new to their seats. Student Government was in a similar situation in the fall of 2007, when Matthew Bennett was, again, the only executive to retain his seat. "While transition is never easy for organizations like Student Government, it is inevitable," Bennett said. "People come and go. We are college students after all."
Lyons sees the new leadership as an opportunity. "I don't see problems rising out of it," he said. "It might provide an opportunity for new ideas to be explored."
Moran was involved with Student Government for three years and hopes to become a co-advisor for the organization with Gustavo Burkett
Lyons said he will choose a candidate to propose to the senate for the school year's first meeting.
"It bothers me just as much, if not more, as an average student, but in this particular instance I don't see any way around it - but I'm open to suggestions," Lyons said.
Lyon's presidency is a result of current SG president, Steve Moran's resignation.
Moran was accepted to the University of Maine's higher education program where he will work with student organizations as a graduate assistant. "It will allow me to move forward in a new capacity," Moran said. "Sometimes opportunities present themselves and you have to consider what will benefit you as a person." Moran's original plan was to finish his presidential term by taking an additional major in history.
"Ultimately, you need to stop being a student and go on to other things in your life," Lyons said he is sad Moran is leaving, but is confident he can take his place. "I realize that me having the seat means someone who was doing a very good job has to leave," Lyons said.
Outside of cleaning up what he described as "messy circumstances," Lyons said he is not prepared to discuss plans for next semester until he has run them by his executive board.
Because Lyons is interning with the Minority Staff of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Washington DC for the summer, Moran decided to retain his presidency until Aug. 15, when Lyons returns to Maine.
Moran's resignation means four of the five executive board members will be new to their seats. Student Government was in a similar situation in the fall of 2007, when Matthew Bennett was, again, the only executive to retain his seat. "While transition is never easy for organizations like Student Government, it is inevitable," Bennett said. "People come and go. We are college students after all."
Lyons sees the new leadership as an opportunity. "I don't see problems rising out of it," he said. "It might provide an opportunity for new ideas to be explored."
Moran was involved with Student Government for three years and hopes to become a co-advisor for the organization with Gustavo Burkett
Lyons said he will choose a candidate to propose to the senate for the school year's first meeting.
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