•President Larson Thune
Thune joined SGA at the beginning of this semester after passing down the presidency of his fraternity Alpha Tau Omega at the end of last year. Deciding to run for Student Body President was something that Thune talked about with many about before making the decision.
“I was on my way home from Winter Break and my CD player was broken, so I was having a good think with myself,” Thune said. “I had just passed down ATO, and I’m not the kind to sit back and do nothing, and so I thought about what it would be like to be president. I called Lee Brooks and he thought I should join SGA first.”
After joining SGA, Thune realized he could bring a “fresh perspective” and get SGA out of its “locked routines.” However, his biggest concern is keeping JMU connected with expansion on the horizon.
When Thune went a tour of JMU, he felt how friendly campus was.
“People would stop and tell us how awesome JMU was,” he said. “We went on the Quad and everyone was playing sports or hanging out and I just thought it was a really cool place.”
One way he plans to keep that feeling is by encouraging student involvement with the different organizations around campus.
“Student involvement is key,” Thune said. “Students should go out and join a sorority and fraternity, The Breeze, SGA, anything. It will elevate their sense of purpose and expose them to other groups.”
Another problem Thune wants to fix is the lack of connection between SGA and the student body.
“You see candidates smiling, kissing babies, or whatever and then once they’re elected they disappear,” Thune said. “I want to hold press conferences once we accomplish one of our goals, or when we find out we can’t accomplish one, so we can increase accountability.”
On a personal level, Thune added that he is a huge Redskins fan.
“I bleed burgundy and gold like I bleed purple and gold,” he said.
Along with being a huge football fan, Thune enjoys skiing, snowboarding and sailing in his free time. During the summer, he is a tennis coach for young children.
“It’s like being an elementary school teacher,” he said.
Overall, Thune believes he is ready to handle the position and everything that comes with it.
“I’m going to try my best,” he said. “I think I’m prepared for it.”
• Vice President of Administrative Affairs
Daniel J. Stana
Stana has participated in SGA since his freshman year as a way to make an impact on the student body. He has served as committee chair, a member of the Centennial Commencement Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee.
Once in office, Stana plans on changing the way the student body looks at the Vice President of Administrative Affairs by becoming more visible to students.
“I want to take a more active role in the way we’re going to do business,” Stana said. “I want to be more in touch with what students want. I feel that’s one thing that we haven’t necessarily overlooked but have definitely taken for granted.
“I think one thing we get caught up in is talking to people we know. We know about 1,000 students really well, but there are 16,108 students at JMU and if we aren’t representing every one of them we aren’t doing our job”
Stana is eager to bring changes to the student body. Some issues he plans to take on in the next year include public safety and academic advising. Stana has stressed the need to increase the number of blue lights around campus to ensure the safety of students. Pedestrian safety is also a major concern for Stana after the incidents of students having been hit by cars. Stana plans on revamping the advisory process between students and their advisers, making sure advisers have all the necessary information to give to students so students are better able to graduate in four years.
“We’ve been working with the Office of Major Advising and we want advisers to send two e-mails out per semester highlighting who they are, what their office is, what their office hours are, what they can do for you at JMU, helping you sign up for classes, giving you suggestions, as well as what they can do to help you once you leave JMU,” Stana said.
• Vice President of Student Affairs
Candace Avalos
Avalos joined SGA at the beginning of her freshman year because she enjoyed being a part of class council in high school. She was new to senate procedures but she felt she had potential for the position.
“I wanted something that challenges me a little more,” she said. “It was always in the back of my mind, because I have a timeline of what I want to get done.”
She decided officially over Spring Break to run for VP of student affairs and used her connection to the student body for campaigning.
“I’m big on Facebook, which I know sounds awkward and loser-ish, but it’s my way of communication,” said Avalos, who is also a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. “I’m up in people’s faces and it’s hard to get me down.”
One of the biggest reasons Avalos feels she can connect with students, other than Facebook, is because she grew up in a diverse area of Sterling, Va.
“I know about different cultures, so I appreciate groups that show that,” she said.
Avalos also appreciates her predecessor, Lindsay Dowd, who she feels was a role model for her in the position.
“She supported so many events and challenged them to do more,” Avalos said. “She was very organized and improved communication between Student Ambassadors and SGA, so I just want to keep that connection she created.”
Her biggest concern is promoting SGA’s philanthropy week, which she hopes will eventually help give back to the Harrisonburg community.
“We want students to bring T-shirts to events and in return their admission will go down, and then we will donate those to Harrisonburg,” Avalos said. “The last couple of events this year will do that and with more manpower we can build a connection with the Harrisonburg community.”
In order to interact with more students on campus, Avalos says she will do what she has to for people to feel comfortable enough to come talk with her.
“I don’t want people to feel intimidated or that I’m not approachable,” Avalos said. “I would put on a silly hat that says ‘Ask me about Purple Out’ and try and encourage people to just come say ‘hi’ and ask questions.”
·Executive Treasurer
Tara Rife joined SGA her freshman year as a way to get involved at JMU in a way that was similar to high school. Rife has been a member of SGA for three years, as a hall senator her freshman year, chair of Academic Affairs Committee and sophomore and junior class treasurer for the Class of 2009.
“I love the people at JMU, they give me a feeling I don’t get anywhere else in the world, it allows me to call JMU home,” said Rife. “You can see a direct correlation between the class treasurer positions and the executive treasurer position. I feel like I have the experience and am fully qualified to be executive treasurer.”
Rife has spoken with a number of members of the administration to see if her platform points are feasible. Rife plans to be more personable with the student body to make more of an impact on campus.
“I’ve already started making contacts with various club treasurers,” Rife said. “I just plan on being very approachable.”
Rife’s priority is continuing funding nights open to all clubs and organizations. She wants to better understand the funding opportunities available through SGA and to add one such meeting per semester.
“Through delegating other tasks and having closer relationships with the contingency liaison and the program grant liaison I plan on making money and funding more available,” she said.
Rife has been an active participant in various aspects of campus life. She was a Resident Advisor in Hoffman Hall for the 2006-2007 school year. Rife is also a member of the General Education Council, which talks to the administration about various aspects in the General Education program and recommends changes.
