(Photo Credit: George Mason University PR Department)
During the 2019 academic year, the Student Council struggled with creating a clear sense of identity. Whether that be shedding responsibility to Student Affairs or not providing oversight for other organizations on campus, many students have been concerned with the future of the Student Council. One such student, Minsoo Chung (Business, ‘22), was elected as the Student Council President for the 2020 academic year on a platform dedicated to creating a strong foundation for the student body. In an interview with The Voice, Minsoo laid out his vision for the future and clarified the role of the organization moving forward.
When asked why he initially ran for Student Council President in the Fall 2019 Semester, Minsoo explained that he “Didn’t just want the person with the best smile to win” and rather he wanted the person with the best vision for the Student Council to lead the student body moving forward. When pressed on what he meant by that he simplified, “The role of the Student Council is to build unity [among students]... We are a family. We cannot be afraid of criticism” he concluded. Specifically, he furthered that previous Student Councils appeared to be afraid of taking on more responsibilities and were not firm enough in handling the increasing role of Student Affairs. While he conceded that Student Affairs has been trying to help students in the way they view as best, Minsoo noted that it should be the Student Council to make the decisions for the student body and not simply act as a puppet for Student Affairs. He went on to explain “[My administration] is a stepping stone to an independent Student Council.” While he did recognize that criticism will be a part of the process in changing the way the Student Council operates, he countered that “Criticism will be seen as a positive by my administration.”
Overall, Minsoo appeared dedicated to creating a clearer identity for the Student Council. Whether that be creating new positions in the Council or changing the Student Council Charter to better adapt to the semester, the new Student Council President is willing to take the steps necessary to run an administration that puts student’s interests first. It is yet to be seen how these plans will be impacted by the changes to the semester caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and the cancellation of face-to-face classes.
Written by Matthew Mandell | Managing Editor
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