STUDENTS WHO ARE MAD FOR USI

BY ALYSSA DEWIG, News Editor

Taegan Garner, senior political science and sociology major, has several roles on campus as the SGA president. She said one task she has is managing the Executive Board. She said she also helps resolve student issues on campus. “I think my bigger job is that I meet with all the vice presidents, I meet with the administration to make sure that student concerns get to the ears of administration and then trying to address those concerns,” Garner said. “I like to tell people my main job is that I try to find problems, come up with solutions and then present them and sell them to administration so that we can see changes on campus.” As a graduating senior, Gardner said she is excited for the next SGA president to take over. She said, “We’ve really tried to build on this organization so that we have a nice foundation to hand off.”

Tyler Henry, senior business administration major, is a senior guard for the men’s basketball team. He said he began playing basketball when he was seven years old. He said he was playing at a park in Brooklyn, New York, while a woman and her daughter watched him play. “I got super excited and I said, ‘Oh yeah, this is something I want to do for the rest of my life if it’s gonna get me the girls,’” Henry said. He said there is not a significant difference playing at a Division I level versus Division II. “There’s great players at every level,” Henry said. He said he chose to come to USI to do something different for himself and his family. Henry said, “A whole different area for them to come to, a different arena, the coach and staff, the love from Dr. Rochon, that all played an important role just to represent them, represent my team, represent my family at a high level like this, at a high regarded institution, because it’s amazing.”

Adrianna Garcia is the first person to hold the title of SGA’s administrative vice president of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee. Garcia helped form the position and was the only person to apply for the position. “Being the AVP of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, my role is to worry about the students who aren’t really worried about, so students with disabilities, Black students, Hispanic students, the LGBTQIA+ community,” Garcia said. “I feel like I was a prime candidate for this role because I’m part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I’m disabled and I’m Hispanic. I kind of felt like I could represent a big portion of those who weren’t being represented, but I want anyone who feels like they can help these students in any way to know that this role can be for them.”