Senate's new leaders, Valarie Cholico and Kevin Thomas
The ballots are in, and after a close race, Rockhurst students have elected a new Student Senate President and Vice-President, Valarie Cholico and Kevin Thomas, respectively. Their official term began on December 1, 2008, replacing seniors Doyle Witt and Allison Rogowski.
Cholico is a sophomore from Chicago, Illinois. She is working towards a double major in Political Science and History as well as a minor in Theology. She hopes to attend law school someday or receive a MA in public policy and foreign relations. Cholico has served two semesters on Student Senate thus far, and she is very humble about her elected position.
"Two months ago, I had no intention of running; however, several people approached me with encouragement. I eventually decided that if they expressed faith in me, then I should have faith in myself."
Cholico not only has the support of her peers, but that of her professors as well.
"I was so pleased when Valarie told me she was running for office and even more pleased to learn that she had won. I think that Rockhurst will be very happy with their choice for a leader, Valarie Cholico," commented Professor Susan Proctor.
Cholico's running mate, Kevin Thomas, is a junior from Manhattan, Kansas. His major is Macrobiology.
"I originally joined Student Senate because I enjoyed my previous student government experiences in high school. However, I continued my active involvement in Student Senate because of the organization's potential to improve Rockhurst University," Thomas said.
Cholico and Thomas have many ideas for the coming semester. Like many other students and faculty members, they hope to make Rockhurst a greener campus. The lack of recycling among students is unsettling, and many of their initiatives deal with the accessibility and convenience of the recycling bins around campus, especially ones that are designated for special events and athletic games.
Both agree that the greatest obstacle that they must tackle is to improve communication between Senate and the student body. Some of their proposals for this include: updating the website to make it more efficient, and utilizing advertisements to keep students more informed. They also hope to create better relationships between the senators and other student organizations, and involve all students more in the senatorial proceedings.
"I want the student body to be informed and routinely come to the Senate with their concerns. Cooperation between organizations and students will significantly increase our potential to enhance the Rockhurst community," said Cholico.
They hope that by improving communication, they will be better able to address other problems and concerns that students have such as printing and computer difficulties, food selection, and campus services.
Overall, Cholico and Thomas hope to serve the student body to the best of their abilities and are open to every student's input.
"If you have any feedback about life at Rockhurst, whether you have a question, comment, concern, or suggestion, please contact Student Senate because that's what we're here for."
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