So you want to be a FUSA senator, huh? Bet you thought you had to go get a bunch of signatures to get on the ballot, and then sweat out a long election night as the votes are counted.
For three members of the Class of 2003, that is not the case at all.
After Butterly appoints them, student body President Karen Donoghue, ’03, approves senate nominees. Butterly says the constitution is set up in this way so that different branches of FUSA can serve as checks and balances.
Vice President of Senate Casey Butterly, ’03, appointed three senators earlier this year: Jenn Hughes, ’03, Kurt Kuechler, ’03, and Sarah Courtney, ’03. The three vacancies existed, Butterly said, because only nine senators were originally elected, one senator was dismissed earlier this year for not attending meetings, and one senator is spending the semester abroad. Normally 10 senators represent every class.
For those senators who were appointed, FUSA senate is a learning experience, and a beneficial one.
“I think we have a great year ahead of us,” said Hughes. “I think that there is real potential this year because we have a combination of experienced and eager first year senators. I was impressed at the first meeting because committees were already doing a tremendous amount of research on issues that have been brought to our attention.”
Kuechler agreed. “I was kind of impressed by the first meeting, and somewhat intimidated,” he said. “For the most part it was interesting because they went through the minutes of past meetings, and they showed that senate is addressing issues that are of concern to the student body. It intrigued me, and I look forward to being able to discuss important issues.”
Still, Kuechler feels like he has more to prove because he was appointed, not elected.
“The fact is I was appointed,” he said. “It seems like it was kind of too easy. I didn’t work as hard to attain that position as others, and I feel like I have to earn my position and work hard in senate to do that.”
Other senators were impressed with the contributions of the recently appointed members.
“I think they’re [Jenn, Kurt and Sarah] doing great…they’re willing to put in a lot of hard work and are enthusiastic about making Senate and FUSA better,” said Reagen Smith, ’03, a senator.
According to Butterly, seniors are traditionally less involved than members of other classes.
“During my time at Fairfield, the seniors have always shown less motivation than other classes,” he said. “However, I don’t think that having three vacancies is indicative of greater apathy. I would also say that seniors can also be the very best senators though, as they normally are the most knowledgeable about various goings on at Fairfield.”
The senate, crippled in the past by poor attendance and lack of student initiative, has seen an improvement.
“It’s definitely much better this year,” said Smith. “We’re working so effectively this year, and senators want to be involved.”
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