Dear Mister/Madam President-Elect:At I write this, I’m afraid I am not aware which candidate has won the Student Government Presidential Election, so please forgive any ambiguities. First of all, congratulations! Receiving the majority vote to be the student body’s chief executive is a great accomplishment, and an even greater privilege. You have no doubt run a hard campaign that has tested your strengths in leadership. You now have within your reach the ability to affect university and even system-wide policy to the benefit of your constituents.That said, you have been elected at a time of urgency. With an economic recession gripping the country, many of the students you must now work for are looking into their wallets nervously, cutting luxuries from their lives and no doubt wary of increases in tuition or fees. Many are probably unaware that the Student Government is available for their use in addressing concerns or sharing ideas that they have. Even now, as you celebrate your victory, the formidable task of drafting a viable SG budget for the next school year looms in the near future. This will, perhaps, be the most difficult volunteer position you have yet held.But your commitment to public service is commendable, and you can tackle these challenges with innovation and an optimistic mindset. Upon your inauguration, have a sit-down with the other SG officials who have won election into the 2009-2010 administration. As the representative of the whole student body, your views carry weight, but these individuals were also duly elected–probably by many of the same people who voted for you. As Washington stressed when he supported using “Mister” President instead of a more elaborate title, the chief executive in a three-branch system is not so much in a higher station as they are the first among equals. Take this opportunity to craft the budget. Even if not everyone agrees on every article, you will be able to find consensus and compromise with positive dialogue. Heck, why not make the process open to general student input, in some way? You might get some insightful ideas, while setting a precedent for inclusiveness.Your next challenge will be appointing folks into the vacant seats left open in the various branches. Advertise this as much as possible, and don’t feel that you have to rush to fill them. In previous years, the President’s 30-day appointment period began with the start of the fall semester, so talk with your colleagues about a system you can all agree on. Be proactive and visit classes, even! It might be a long process, but this way, you’ll be able to draw upon the wealth of TAMIU’s talent pool.As a last item, consider how you will reach out to the student body. Work alongside faculty and administrators to approach students in as many ways as possible during their campus experience. SG is, after all, a partner with the faculty and administration, rather than a unilaterally-governing authority. Be as present in a student’s development as you can, so they know how important a role the Student Government plays, and that they can come to you when they want to help make a difference. I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming months. There may be hard tests of your leadership on the horizon, but if I’ve learned anything from the past few years at TAMIU, it’s that Dustdevils never shrink in the face of adversity; they thrive on challenges. I’m confident you may call on anyone who works, studies, or teaches here for advice and help. Take care, and God bless.
Sincerely,A proud student
P.S. Remember to write some cool outreach articles in The Bridge, hehe!