Student Body President Aidan Clark stepped down from the presidency before the start of the fall semester. This year would have been his first time in the position.
According to Clark, he resigned on Aug. 5 to pursue a personal opportunity that more closely aligned with his post-college career goals. His resignation marks an end to four years of serving in SGA, during two of which he served as vice president under previous President Axel Brown.
“I have loved serving the students, but I felt it was time to start a new chapter of my life,” Clark said. Following his resignation, Clark has made himself available as a resource for the next president.
The position has been assumed by Student Body Vice President Carson Hodges, following Article IV of the SGA constitution, which states the vice president will assume the position if the president is removed or resigns. Hodges formally accepted the presidency at the semester’s first SGA meeting on Aug. 29.
“[My] first reaction was ‘Oh, how am I going to do this?’” Hodges said in an interview. “But that was before I even thought about it. Right after that, it delved more into coming up with ideas and figuring out who I need to talk to.”
In his address to the SGA Senate, Hodges emphasized his intention to work toward the goals he and Clark set during their campaign.
“I want to keep up with the projects that I said I was going to start on, like working with Disability Services to make a more accommodating campus and working to get these events that we fund here off of the floor and into the air,” Hodges said.
According to Hodges, he realized the accommodations for people with disabilities on campus were lacking when his friend tore his ACL and was unable to make it to class because the elevators were broken.
Hodges hopes to improve communication between Disability Services and students, such as sending text alerts about elevator maintenance.
With Hodges in the role of student body president, the vice president position is currently vacant. He has the power to appoint a candidate to be confirmed or denied by the Senate, according to Article X of the SGA constitution.
Hodges plans to appoint Senator of Sustainability Aidan Burke to the position. “I’m trying to keep an Aidan in office,” Hodges said.
If Burke is confirmed by the Senate, his position will be vacant, adding to the other vacancies in the Senate, including senator of military affairs, senator of the arts and senator of innovation.
The position of chief justice is also vacant because the previous chief justice graduated, but Associate Chief Justice Savoy Garey expressed interest in assuming the position at the Aug. 29 SGA meeting.
Vacant positions are filled by candidates who are recommended by the Appointments Advisory Committee, which Hodges will lead. The candidates are then sent to Senate to be confirmed or denied.
Despite the unexpected start to the semester, Hodges said he looks forward to the year. “I’m excited to see what I can do for the students and how we can grow together,” he said.
Hodges’ office hours will be held in UC 102E in the Student Life Lounge on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2:45 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Photo via Scribe Archives.