Top SG positions see 56 applicants
After vetting 56 applicants for top Student Government positions, Student Body President Chase Mizzell has selected all but one member of his executive cabinet. Aided by the newly chosen officers, Mizzell plans to move forward with safety and service initiatives as he begins his term.
Thirty-one students will serve in Mizzell’s cabinet this legislative term, including former vice presidential candidates Courtland Thomas and Will Fortanbary, who will serve as Carolina Convoy auxiliary director and multimedia coordinator, respectively, and former treasurer candidates Brandon White and Caroline Hendricks. Hendricks will be the secretary of safety and transportation, while White will serve another term as the secretary of organizational outreach.
Mizzell said he was still looking for an official webmaster Wednesday night and had reached out to students studying computer science and engineering.
Mizzell said his cabinet is a “good mix” of students who have been involved in Student Government before and those who have been leaders in other organizations and are joining SG for the first time.
“It’s a balance of folks who will bring experience from within SG as well as a balance of folks who will bring leadership experience from organizations on campus,” Mizzell said. “It’s important, for example, that people in positions like [secretary of] environmental affairs have been involved with Sustainable Carolina and been involved with groups on campus such as Eco-Reps.”
Mizzell, Chief of Staff Steven Vanderlip and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephanie Saunders recruited potential officers outside of SG through organizations like University Ambassadors, multicultural groups and fraternities and sororities. After receiving the 56 applications online, they interviewed each applicant. Each student was asked what kind of legacy they hoped to leave at USC.
“It was an exciting opportunity to see this group of new leaders challenging themselves with this opportunity,” Mizzell said. “This year, we’re challenging them. Student Government demands excellence from everyone within our cabinet.”
Mizzell, Vanderlip and Saunders deliberated for a few days.
“We looked at two roles: who would best fill the job and better the university, and the impact it would have on the individual and their personal growth, professionalism and leadership,” Mizzell said.
On the evening of his election, Mizzell said he would take all former executive candidates into consideration when choosing cabinet members. After announcing the members of his cabinet, he said the four former candidates given positions were all of the former candidates who applied to be part of the group.
After his election, Mizzell said his first initiative would be naming his cabinet. Now that he has, he has plans in place to move forward with work on campus safety and service initiatives.
Mizzell, Vanderlip and Saunders have already met with Vice President of Student Affairs Dennis Pruitt and members of the Division of Law Enforcement and Safety to discuss students’ chief safety concerns.
Secretary of Community Service Rachel Kitchens is coordinating efforts for students to participate in One Columbia CityServe, a community service initiative being spearheaded by Mayor Steve Benjamin, Mizzell said. Food Pantry Auxiliary Director Claire Kimpton is currently recruiting coordinators for the project.
Student Body Vice President Ryan Bailey and Student Body Treasurer Haley Guyton have chosen much smaller cabinets. Bailey’s consists of five members, including Chief of Staff Trenton Smith, who served as former Student Body President Kenny Tracy’s chief of staff in Student Government’s last term. Guyton’s cabinet has just two members: Chief of Staff Eric Anderson and Comptroller Liaison Kinsley Vassey.