Fall semester sees the loss of two class presidents

This semester, presidents of the freshman and sophomore classes stepped down from their positions. Sophomore class Vice-President Christopher Cole said the former president of the sophomore class chose to step down due to an increase in schoolwork.

“She came to us initially and decided to step down from her position because she felt that her studies were more important,” Cole said. “She couldn't give the attention to the executive-board or to the class the she wanted, so she decided on her own to step down from her position and give it to someone who can be more motivated with the class.”

Freshman class President Alison Hammell stepped up from her old position as Vice-President when the former president dropped out of school. Hammell said the old president wasn't properly doing the job.

“She wasn't doing the things she needed to be, or was supposed to be doing as a student and a president,” Hammell said. “She wasn't putting her full effort into everything and wasn't being as studious as much as she should have been.”

Presidents choosing to relinquish their roles isn't a recent trend at Keene State College. The class of 2010's president originally left his position during freshman year to be replaced by Matt Gill, the current senior class president. Gill said past presidents struggled with commitment to the important role.

“To not plan any events at all, that's kind of where these old presidents who really weren't doing anything is kind of about,” Gill said. “When they don't show up it's really because they're not interested in being president."

According to Gill, the job of a class president is one of representation.

“Presidency is being the representative of your class,” Gill said. “You're the representative to the student body. You're representative to the faculty and staff.”

Class presidents run e-board meetings with other class officers as well as sit in on larger Student Government board meetings. Gill said students often don't understand what is required of them when they take on the responsibilities of being class president.

“I think some people think that the job isn't hard or they'll have so much work,” Gill said. “Maybe the job isn't as easy as they would like it to be.”

Since taking over as president, Gill said much of his time has been devoted to the job.

“I put in ten hours each week just working on class stuff,” Gill said. “A week that we have an event planned I'm putting in probably 50 hours and on top of schoolwork, that's an obscene amount of time.”

“Most people don't really understand, to be a president, how much time and effort it takes to do what you're doing,” Gill said.

Cole said, while the job can be time-consuming, it doesn't require more than a dedicated student could give.

“Freshmen coming in don't always know what they're getting into, but it's definitely doable,” Cole said. “It's more of a time commitment than other class positions, but it's manageable.”

Cole said, when presidents step down, it is usually by the student's own choosing.

“I think, in case of resignations, it's always individual choice or individual reason as to why they resign,” Cole said.

Despite the commitment to the job, Cole said it's most important that members of Student Government have a good time.

“In Student Government, we strive for professionalism and govern over a lot of student organizations, however it's most important that you enjoy and learn from what you're doing here,” Cole said. “Have fun, no matter what's thrown at you.”

Gill said the best way for presidents to stay active and involved is to be passionate in their endeavors.

“If you want to be president, you really have to love what you do,” Gill said. “It's a matter of wanting to be there and wanting to make a difference in your class and being the representative the college needs.”

“It's a tough job, maybe it really is cursed,” Hammell said. “We'll see what happens next year.”

Brian Anderson can be contacted at banderson@keeneequinox.com.