SGA confirms director of student life
Speaker Debbie Allen, a senior international relations major, delivering topic points during Friday’s SGA meeting. The meeting discussed the confirmation of directors of student life and chief of staff. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
April 23, 2023
Correction: This piece has been updated to reflect that Duane Meighan has not been confirmed as chief of staff.
DeKALB – The Student Government Association confirmed a director of student life for the SGA cabinet.
Both the director of student life and the chief of staff were appointed by President-elect Olivia Newman on Friday.
Anthony Heavens, a junior business administration major, was confirmed as the director of student life. Heavens has been the director of student life for the past year and will continue in the role during the next academic year.
“Since I’ve had the position, I’ve started many things that I haven’t finished yet,” Heavens said. “I think another year will allow me to be more successful so I can finish those things.”
According to the SGA bylaws, the director of student life is responsible for providing recommendations regarding issues affecting student life on campus, such as housing, financial aid, safety and other support services.
The SGA reviewed the nomination of Duane Meighan, a senior biology major and president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, for chief of staff
According to SGA bylaws, the chief of staff is responsible for overseeing the actions of SGA staff and assisting the president with their tasks when needed.
According to Senator Dallas Douglass, Meighan previously held the position of director of Academic Affairs before being censured for failure to complete position duties in May 2022 and leaving the position soon after. However, many senators argued that he had earned a second chance.
“Things that happened in the past shouldn’t really reflect on him or even matter either,” Senator Alexia Musgraves said. “The fact that he came back and he’s going for such a high position, I’m really excited to see what he’s going to do.”
Meighan said he would plans to learn from his past failures in order to improve himself and the SGA as a whole.
“I understand how some of you may feel about me being up here and my history,” Meighan said. “But I’ve grown in those two years and I will stand on my word to make sure that SGA flourishes and that it’s the best org it can be.”
SGA meetings are open to the public and held at 2 p.m. on Fridays, with locations posted in the senate’s agendas. SGA minutes and intent to speak forms are available on Huskie Hub.
