Name: Evan Martucci
Year: Senior
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Hamden, CT
Her Campus: What does being Chief Justice of Marist College entail?
Evan Martucci: As Chief Justice, I preside over the Judicial Board of the Marist Student Government Association made up of students from our campus. The Judicial Board decides on matters ranging from club problems with the college to any intergovernmental disputes. The Board also reviews all parking ticket appeals and decides whether to approve or deny the appeals. Since club and Student Government Association disputes are rare, we spend most of our time on parking appeals.
HC: What kind of skills can you gain from your position that you hope to bring to your profession?
EM: Similar to many of my fellow Criminal Justice majors, I hope to get involved in some type of law enforcement in the future. The position not only entails leading a group of students in coming to a supported conclusion, but also involves using good judgment when deciding the hundreds of appeals we receive each year. The leadership experience, communication skills, and decision-making abilities will be extremely helpful in the career path I wish to pursue.
HC: What made you decide to pursue the position of Chief Justice?
EM: Even before I was a student who chose Criminal Justice as his major, I always had an interest in the Justice system and legal proceedings in general. As Chief Justice, I am able to be directly involved with the “legal” side of the Student Government Association.
HC: Generally speaking, what does it take to be successful as Chief Justice?
EM: With any position involving decision-making authority, it’s always good to be fair and balanced. I think most people who know me would consider me to be pretty levelheaded. Even though it’s a fairly “behind the scenes” job, it doesn’t hurt to be able to communicate well with others and be articulate and well-spoken with the members of your board (and especially all those who demand an explanation for the denial of their parking ticket appeal).
HC: Can you name the most rewarding thing and biggest challenge you face?
EM: The most rewarding aspect of the job is the ability to resolve issues that arise on campus that are presented to the Judicial Board. The biggest challenge is dealing with those who are on the losing end of those decisions. Although I’ve remained fairly anonymous in my position, I’m fairly certain that some people who have been forced to pay hefty parking fines to Marist Security do not hold a great opinion of myself.
HC: What advice do you have for whomever takes your place?
EM: Remain anonymous. As soon as word gets out that you can remove anyone’s parking tickets, and more importantly the fines associated with them, you get a lot of “friends” asking for favors. The job can only be done well with as little bias as possible being allowed into the decision making process (Thanks Her Campus Marist for blowing my cover).