SGA Dinner with Kristin Skarie

Student Government members hosted a dinner with Kristin Skarie, motivational speaker and leadership trainer on Monday night. Krisitin is part of the Teamworks group and was in New York to present at City Tech New Student Orientation

The students had a very enjoyable conversation with Kristin. Some of the topics included how college student compared throughout the world (she recently traveled to South Africa), the exciting opportunity that the SGA has by being able to work with such a diverse group of students, leadership tips, characteristics of campus politics and how it applies to the world of work and how she started her business.

A highlight for me was when she asked the question "How do you define success?" I think it left all of participates thinking about their personal definitions of success.

Student Elections Begin

Student Elections are being held today through Wednesday, April 16 at 5:00 p.m. If you are a registered City Tech Student and have not yet voted you can go to the website from any computer with Internet access. The address is: www.elexpert.net/votecitytech.

Today's Meet the Candidates Event

City Tech Students were given an opportunity to meet those running for student governance positions for the 08-09 academic year. Ten of the 11 candidates attended the event that was held today from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Atrium in the old bookstore space. Student elections will be Monday, April 14-Wednesday, April 16. Students will be able to vote online at www.elexpert.net/votecitytech.

These candidates participated in the event today. Missing from the picture is Ashis Kumar Gupta.

Presidential candidate, Lerone Bleadsdille, talking with students.

Vice President candidate, Sarah Conyers, speaking with students.

Students discussing the proposed revisions to the SGA constitution.

Meet the Candidates

City Tech students will have an opportunity to meet the candidates for several of the position for Student Government Association 2008-2009. All students are invited to join us in the old bookstore on the 1st floor of the Atrium. The candidates will be there from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. to answer your questions and to tell you what they plan to do if elected.

We will also be suppling refreshments for all those who attend.

Student Fee Referendum

There will be a student fee referendum on the ballot next week. The referendum is for a fee increase to the student activities fee. The funds generated would be used to support athletics, childcare, student clubs, SGA and NYPIRG. Currently the City Tech student activities fee is one of the lowest within CUNY and has not been adjusted in 10 years.

I encourage you to check out the referendum so that you may make an informed choice about your vote. The actual wording of the referendum is posted above.

Man (Women) of the Times or Man (Women) of the Future

I have just returned from the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) annual convention. This year's event was held in Atlanta. Nearly 4000 individuals who work in a variety of areas of Student Affairs attended this years conference.

One of the highlights was the opening keynote address by poet, Nikki Giovanni. Ms. Giovanni talked about her life and her work and her friendships with Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. And she shared some of her poetry.

One of the most memorable stories was of her interaction with the wife of the bus driver who drove the bus the day that Rosa Parks took her seat in the front of the bus. Soon after the the bus drivers death, Ms. Giovanni spoke with his wife. The drivers wife said that you just didn't understand. That her husband was only a man of his time.

Ms. Giovanni's comment to us was that being "of our time" is not good enough. If we are "of our time" we only stay where we are. Change only happens when we our "men of the future" and that "being of our time" is not an excuse for injustice in any form.

I challenge each of you to be a man or woman of the future. Take this as the call to do something more. A call not to accept the status quo.

Student Elections

The list of eligible candidates for 2008-2009 student governance positions has been posted outside the office of student life. Elections will be Mon., April 14 - Wed., April 16, 2008. A list of candidates follows.

SGA President
Lerone Bleasdille (Rising Stars)

SGA Vice President
Sarah Conyers (Rising Stars)

SGA Secretary
No Candidates

SGA Treasuer
Emmanuel Santos (Rising Stars)

SGA Chief Justice
Leah Suter (Rising Stars)

SGA Social Director
Marcos Sotomayor (Rising Stars)

SGA Part-Time Evening Representative
Andrew Jackson (Rising Stars)
Ashis KumaGuptaS

SGA Senator for the School of Professional Studies
Evita Belmonte

New Tech Times Editor
Miriam Sotomayo (Rising Stars)

College Council for the School of Professional Studies
Clarence Leaphart

Faculty-Student Disciplinary Committee
Christina Torres

Training for Coach Program

This morning eleven of the Peer Coaches participated in a workshop on creating a personal vision and setting goals. Coaches learned techniques for helping students develop their personal visions. The interactive presentation was facilitated by me, Daniel Fictum, and was great way to end the week.