Next Year's Leaders Hard to Find for Student Clubs

Matt Styer

Juniors Bryce Bergey, Andile Dube, and Mike Kniss at a recent SGA sponsored ice cream social held to attract potential candidates.

Many clubs are having a hard time finding next year's leaders as new SGA guidelines ask student clubs to submit names before the end of the semester.

The Eastern Mennonite Student Women's Association (EMSWA) is one of the many clubs struggling to find next year's leadership. "We really don't have a core group, so nobody really jumps out as a leader," said junior Amanda Maust, co-president. "If there isn't interest we really don't have any plans to continue."

Even SGA itself is suffering from a lack of students who are interested in cabinet positions. The constitution states that elections for cabinet positions are to be held before April 1. This year, the deadline was pushed back partly because of a lack of candidates along with several other issues. Sophomore Julia Gingrich, vice-president, said, "I don't know of anybody that is planning on running for president."

In an attempt to find new potential candidates, SGA held an ice cream social last Wednesday serving cabinet petitions with the toppings.

Speculating why clubs, including their own, are having a hard time finding replacements, Black Student Union (BSU) vice-president and senior Van Thach-Song said, "People are just more devoted to school and work."

Several clubs do have leaders setup for next semester. One of these is the Young People's Christian Association (YPCA). With nearly 100 active members, the club has an easier time identifying leaders than some smaller clubs. Still, co-president junior Karie Smucker said that they generally first approach a person and tell them that they would make a good leader.