Name: Tory Atkins
Year: Sophomore
Major: Computer Information Systems / Marketing
What made you decide to run for sophomore class president? I was involved with student council in high school, and I loved it. I wanted to be involved at the collegiate level, so when I saw that I could be involved with JMU SGA, I decided to give it a try.
Can you tell us anything about the competition you experienced?For the two elections in which I’ve run, it was against a total of three great guys. I never really knew any of them while we were running against each other, and we kept the competition civil. Some of them are still involved with SGA and some are not, but we’re all friendly!
What is your favorite part about being in SGA?
My favorite part about being in Student Government is being part of an organization that has the ability to change a lot on campus. SGA has a set of committees that each have a dedicated role in making a difference here at JMU. The Finance Committee receives contingency requests from groups on campus, and helps allocate funds to them for conferences and events, effectively aiding groups that might not have been able to do said things otherwise. Academic Affairs works with everything from adding more PASS instructors to the development of finals schedules. University Services works closely with Dining Services, Parking Services, and other campus resources that are constantly improving in order to meet the needs of students. Legislative Action’s goal is to promote civic engagement on campus, and they also often lobby in D.C. and Richmond. Membership and Community Engagement are internal committees that focus on promoting community service and growing relationships within SGA. Class Council, which is the committee I’m on, focuses on class unity and traditional events like Ring Premiere and Senior Countdown. Although Class Council events are mostly traditional, we’re trying to add new events and put a spin on everything we do. Everyone who’s in SGA joined to help “be the change” at JMU, so if you ever want to see anything changed on campus, we’d love to hear from you!
What are some of your responsibilities as president? Officially, as president of the class of 2017, I share a committee made up of myself, vice president Shane Van Hoy, secretary Jenna Anderson, and treasurer Sydney Moreland. Together, we work with other committees in SGA and groups outside of SGA to put on events that help unify, inform, and entertain our class. We have a few that are passed down year to year, and we’ve also been adding a few as we go! In addition to being a class officer, I am also a senator, which means I have voting and speaking rights during the SGA Senate meetings (which are open to the public: Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. in the Festival Highlands room). Unofficially, a lot of people come to me when they have questions about things/people on campus, and I put them in touch with the right people.
What aspect of being class president challenges you the most? Honestly, I’m terrible at remembering names. I meet a lot of people, and I’ll usually recognize their faces if I see them again, or I’ll remember some random fact (like they lived in the Village freshman year or they’re in SafeRides), but I will totally blank on their name.
What are some future plans that may be awaiting the class of 2017?
For our sophomore year, everyone should keep an eye out for Ring Premiere. It’s a big annual event where the Ring Committee reveals our class ring design. There’s also a ton of giveaways (we’re talking GoPro and iPad caliber stuff), free food, and tshirts! We’re also working on an event called “So You Want To Be an Intern,” for anyone looking for an internship/job, or just to better their networking skills in general. Another event in the works is one we’re collaborating on with the freshmen class council. It’s an off-campus life workshop, that gives advice on things like where to live, how to make quick, easy meals, and how to budget.
Are you involved in any other student organizations? If so, how do you manage your time?
Yes! I am also in a professional co-ed business fraternity, Phi Chi Theta. Time management wise, I’m a serial scheduler. My friends always make fun of me because they have to schedule times to have lunch or go shopping. Balancing both keeps me busy, but I love it. I get bored too easily!