Senate pres. explains decision on leadership trip

In an interview Tuesday, Senate President Jacob Rissler defended Senate’s request for money to attend the National Center for Student Leadership Conference.

Although Rissler says that current student leadership is strong he adds, “We are able to recognize our room for improvement.”

Seven months ago, Senate received the NCSL’s advertising pamphlet, and were told by Aaron Prestwich they could attend.

The executive board, which includes Rissler; Nate Jones, vice president; Ashley Swanson, treasurer; Danny Reynaga, student trustee; Jon Lordino, chief justice; Lane Swedberg, CAB chair; and Erica Misner, secretary, will attend the conference. Rissler said that “in order to keep costs down, and to encourage later participation, better student leadership has to start at the top and get a trickle-down effect.”

Rissler said that the trip will benefit the student body saying “We will be able to communicate better and encourage better leaders all together in Senate as well as CAB.”

The Senate Executive board decided to take the trip due to events last year. “We’re going there because of, I’m sure, some of the events last year that had to do with the SFC, people from the paper, senate, stuff like that.”

Rissler was, of course, referring to the debate that ensued last year due to Senate Finance Committee and Student Senate being unable to decide on a budget. This debate was abruptly ended when Prestwich disbanded Student Finance Committee.

The conference, which includes speakers and other sessions, will make students attending certified leaders. “I assume there is a test, whether it be a physical written test, or whether it is just checking your skills,” Rissler said, although he added that he didn’t know for sure what the leadership certification process included.

Rissler added that, though there are online options, he believes the best sort of interaction is face-to-face. Although he says this limits the amount of people who can become certified, he says that being present would be much more beneficial.

The $16,000, according to Rissler, includes attending adviser Susan Schaeffer associate professor of counseling, psychology, and social work. Rissler said “paying for her is a reward and thank you for her going with us.”

When asked if funds of this quantity would be provided for other clubs to attend conferences Rissler responded “Senate leadership affects the entire student body and not to say clubs don’t, but clubs are more focused.” He also added that they don’t want to start a precedence of every club coming to ask for money for a few people to a national conference because it would quickly get expensive.

Rissler admitted that the executive board should have brought up the topic of the allocation earlier. However, he said that he would not have allowed the idea to come so far without first making sure it would be worth it. “Rather than waiting a week and seeing the cost rise exponentially we thought we would save the cost and bring it up to senate [Monday].” He also admitted that more time should have been given to the senators to consider the allocation.

Rissler said that he is unsure whether after the conference if the executive board will be able to certify others in leadership.

Rissler added that students can ask senate representatives as well as the executive board for more information. “We want people to seek us out and get answers, not just assume we are self-serving.”