Ex-SGA speaker says farewell

For the first time in more than a year, UCF's Student Government Association Senate won't see Drew Pope take the seat at the head of the Key West Ballroom.

Pope, who has served as the speaker since April 2010, will not be present when the SGA reconvenes on Thursday, June 2, after announcing his resignation at the first senate meeting of the summer on Thursday, May 19.

"While I love being involved and I love that high-paced, active environment, I think I need a little more time for myself and to reprioritize everything," said the junior mechanical engineering major.

For the longest time, Pope's responsibilities have revolved around SGA, the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and school.

"I've been involved in SGA since day one of being here at UCF," Pope said.

His first experience in SGA was as a member of the Student Body President Advisory Council. In the spring of 2009, Pope applied to be one of the justices.

However, the interviewer and the SGA president at that time, Logan Berkowitz, told Pope he might be a better fit in senate.

"I went to a meeting or two, got appointed and from there it's kind of just been on the up and up," said Pope, who served as a senator for a year before he was elected the speaker.

However, in his first few months as a senator, Pope didn't really speak.

"I was one of those quiet people that didn't really say much in the meetings," Pope said.

He never expected that the speaker of the senate was a position he would eventually take on.

To prepare, he read through an abundance of senate rules and regulations, attended various committee meetings and sought advice from some of the people he trusted the most in SGA, including former President Mike Kilbride and the current Senate President Pro Tem Josh Miller.

Miller and Pope actually ran against each other for the position.

"I knew Drew was going to become something very big, which he did, and I'm very happy for him," said Miller, who thought Pope could have served as the president if he wanted. "I knew he was going somewhere."

Whether Pope realized how far he'd go or not, he remembers his first day as the speaker being a bit of a challenge.

"It was nerve-racking," Pope said. "Just figuring out my vision of where I wanted senate to go and leading it in that direction was the most difficult for the first few months."

The beginning might have been tough, but Pope enjoyed being so involved.

"I think the most fun I have is really just getting to know everyone on an individual basis, not just senate, but the people I come in contact with on a daily basis," Pope said. "The most rewarding thing is being able to help out students and reach out as much as possible…as cliché as that sounds. I'm going to miss being able to do that on a regular basis because that's what I signed up for in the first place."

Miller said Pope told him he was leaving before he made the announcement at the senate meeting.

"When Drew told me he was leaving, it was a little upsetting because he's one of my last good friends here [in SGA]," Miller said.

SGA adviser Christa Coffey was also saddened when Pope announced his resignation.

"He's been great to work with. He's always willing to come in and consult with me about different issues," said Coffey, who appreciated the fact that Pope didn't make snap decisions. "I was surprised and sad, but he's got things he needs to take care of and obviously, above anything, I understand that."

Although Pope will be able to devote more time to his studies, family and friends, he said he'll miss not being in the office everyday and knowing what's going on in the different branches.

"I've gained so much every single time I'm in that office," Pope said.

Pope said that he learned more about himself as a leader and as a person through being a part of senate and other various SGA committees.

"I'll take those leadership skills that I've learned and bring them wherever I go, into whatever I do," Pope said.

Prior to being in SGA, Pope saw himself behind a desk after graduation designing boats and yachts for an engineering company.

Though he still describes himself as "an engineer to the core," his plans have slightly changed.

"I wouldn't mind working with a lot of people," Pope said. "I can see myself now going into a mangement role, and I'd like to maybe oversee the aspect of design of the engineering or of an engineering firm."