Out of the four campuses of FAU, MacArthur is, next to Treasure Coast, the smallest. With less than 2,300 students, MacArthur students make up only 7% of the population of FAU as a whole. At this new, small satellite campus, less than 300 Honors College students live in residence halls on campus, and about 2,000 students commute to the school for classes.
A small student population is represented by a small Student Government. MacArthur has nine senators, and there are twelve agencies currently operating in the governor’s cabinet. Yet, the small Student Government is composed of very dedicated, concerned students who wish to make a difference.
Honor and trust
Governor Noemi Coltea is the leader of the executive branch. The former head of MacArthur’s Program Board, she ran unopposed for her current position. When Senate Speaker Mindy McLester was nominated for Speaker last spring, the senate chose her unanimously.
MacArthur’s confidence in its Student Government leaders may not be intentional. The large majority of Student Government is composed of Honors College students, and many commuter students do not vote in student elections. Those involved in Student Government know that they are there to represent all students, and make a conscious effort to do so. In the past two years, however, there has been an increase in commuter student interest in Student Government, with as much as 1/3 of the senate being composed of commuter students.
At the June 23 MacArthur Student Senate meeting, the group held in-house elections, and unanimously elected Andrew Wallace, who will be the senate’s only non-Honors College member. Senators chose him for his record of leadership, conveyed sense of commitment, and desire to be involved.
A unified campus
MacArthur is an example of Student Government running successfully. From their single office, the governor, her cabinet, the senate speaker, and the senate work closely in more ways than one to serve the students. Motivated by the best interest of the student body, the executive and legislative branches work together to decide how to best serve their students.
It is common courtesy at MacArthur to honestly attempt to work out differences between the legislative and executive branches. When discussing a recent bill, the governor shared her concern with the senate speaker, who did not agree. By informing the senate of her plans to veto the bill, the governor graciously provided the legislative body with the opportunity to think about her opposition, and decide what course of action would best benefit the students before overriding such a veto.
Instead of hiding their misgivings about certain actions of the other branch, Student Government members at MacArthur openly discuss and debate issues, often to discover a compromise to best serve the interests of the students. The single office that is shared by the entire MacArthur Student Government creates a tight-knit community within the greater tight-knit community of the MacArthur campus.
Honor plays an important role at MacArthur. On such a small campus, students know where to take their concerns, and Student Government does their best to accommodate. Because they often don’t campaign for their positions, those that choose to be in Student Government are there because they want to help. The SG office is right across from student services, easily accessible to all students. Student Government at MacArthur has an “open door” policy, and students are always welcome to speak to whoever is in the office to address their concerns.
Everyone is welcome
“I love MacArthur,” said Student Body President Ancel Pratt.
For the first time, in the President’s Administrative Cabinet, (PAC) Pratt has hired a university- wide cabinet member who is not from the Boca Raton campus. Valentine Sobirov, a student from MacArthur, is the university-wide webmaster. Pratt has strived for an honest administration. Student Body Vice President Brent Dell is MacArthur’s former governor, and the honesty, respect, and integrity that exists at MacArthur in Student Government remains one of his platforms university wide.
“To bring Student Government back to the students, students must trust and respect leaders in our positions. After all, without the students I would not be here,” Dell said.
The two-hour senate meeting that took place on June 23 was a testament to the laid-back style of the MacArthur campus. The meeting was structured and organized, yet relaxed enough to welcome students unfamiliar with Student Government. Cabinet approvals were examined carefully, yet no malice existed among the senators who approved the Governor’s Administrative Cabinet (GAC) members.
Several members of the University- Wide Cabinet, including Student Body President Ancel Pratt, Student Body Vice President Brent Dell, Chief Justice Dana Roberts, Director of Athletics Rick “$mitty” Smith, and University-Wide Controller David Korn, were present at MacArthur’s last senate meeting to give reports and show support. Additionally, Boca Raton Senate Speaker Michael W. Moore made an appearance. “MacArthur’s awesome,” declared Moore.
Student Government members take an oath of office to “strive for the betterment of the student body.” At MacArthur, SG representatives take this oath into account as they constantly strive to improve life on their campus.
