By Dakoda Smith, Staff Writer
The audience awaited the arrival of John Riesenberg, Student Government Association president. Riesenberg hurriedly fixed his tie and rushed from his office in the Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center to the Great Glass Atrium in Wanda L. Bass School of Music in a screen-projected video.
A group of students, comprising a string quartet, built up music as Riesenberg physically entered the room with his executive council to deliver a speech at State of the Students that he said he considered a success.
“We feel it was successful, because everyone seemed to have a good time for the most part,” he said. “People laughed, which is great.”
This was the first time that many of the SGA officials had attended the annual State of the Students, which heightened the pressure they felt to succeed, Riesenberg said.
“I think we were pretty nervous all week and all last week about the event,” he said. “But we were able to get the information out that we needed.”
The group also added a new tradition to the ceremony: presenting awards of recognition to three recipients, Riesenberg said.
“We just thought that it could be a tradition that we started,” he said. “It wasn’t something that was very difficult to do, but we thought it fit a good message and had a good impact.”
Those awarded were Ron Norick, chairman of the board of trustees, President Robert and Dr. Jan Henry, the first lady, for their “tireless effort,” and the facilities department for their involvement in remodeling the SGA office and responding to flooding in Oklahoma United Methodist Hall.
SGA was pleased with the amount of students and faculty that showed up for the event, Riesenberg said.
“We had a pretty good turnout,” he said. “There was a large student turnout of people that just came because they just heard about the event, or who had friends in student government.”
Nicole Leigh Hood, music theater sophomore, did not attend the event, but said she wanted to.
“It was at an inconvenient time for me and most of the music students, considering the many rehearsals and different auditions that took place on Tuesday,” she said. “I think there was also a students of arts management meeting.”
After starting what Riesenberg called a “night of recognition and giving thanks,” he said the “OCU community has certain expectations of SGA.”
His speech consisted of a list of what SGA officials felt were some of the most positive accomplishments for the campus community:
- High attendance in activities like Free Movie Night, Oozeball, midnight breakfast, pizza feast, and One Give
- Increased SGA visibility on campus
- Added a new SGA position: director of sustainability
- 24-hour study area in the Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center
- Recruiting program that reaches out to high school students
- Creating an SGA culture and establishing a strategic plan and vision for future student governments
Riesenberg finished his speech by promising that SGA officials “will do all they can to work for you,” the student body.
Good job Dakoda! I am “dad” proud!