Six confirmed in new SGA administration

UCF students have forgotten how to speak.

That's the opinion of the recently confirmed Student Government Association director of student affairs, Michael Davis, and he wants to do something to change that.

"SGA, we're here to advocate for students," said Davis, who was one of five executive cabinet members confirmed by senate. "However, if there's not a student voice backing us, no one's really going to listen."

Supporting students and giving them a voice was a common theme among the other cabinet members, which include Comptroller Josh Miller, Attorney General Reggie Paros, Director of Campus Life Chris Pombonyo and Director of Communications Amanda Newby. President Matthew McCann and Vice President Adam Brock's pick for chief justice of the judicial branch was also confirmed June 2 and will be held by Jordan Shapiro.

Paros, who took over the position of attorney general when Nicholas Gurney resigned, first realized the impact SGA can have when he served as the judicial adviser in former president Brian Peterson's cabinet.

"As a judicial adviser, a lot of my role was working with students who were going through student conduct, and a lot of times those students wouldn't necessarily step inside the SGA office," Paros said. "It really drove my passion for student government and what we do here."

This year, the judicial branch will continue with one of last year's biggest initiatives, the Know Your Rights campaign.

"This year we're focusing more on student organizations and specific subject areas," said Paros, who cited tailgating as an example.

Tailgating is just one of the things that Pombonyo plans on expanding in an effort to develop lasting traditions at UCF that will bring students back to campus as alumni.

"One of the things we're working on this year is launching a traditions book where students, throughout their four years at UCF, can complete different traditions, such as Spirit Splash … and keep track of it online, kind of like a portfolio," Pombonyo said.

Pombonyo served as director of Campus Activities Board's Spectacular Knights Committee and applied for director of campus life because he wanted to continue his efforts in improving UCF students' experience.

Former senate president pro tempore Miller wants to focus on the bigger picture, specifically regarding finances. He decided to apply for the comptroller position after having a good experience as the chair of the Activity and Service Fee Budget Committee.

"I think one of the reasons I took this [position] is I wanted something different because I'd been on senate for a long time," Miller said. "Being ASF chair was just the greatest experience. You get to work with so many different people and interact with so many different people."

Miller said his time in SGA has taught him to manage peoples' expectations.

Newby, who served as the director of campus life in former president Michael Kilbride's administration, is ready to set some expectations in stone in her new role as the director of communications.

"I think it's important with this position to have been in SGA at least a year before," Newby said. "You have to work with not only every division, but every branch in a way to help promote and advertise SGA events."

Newby said she hopes that students realize how many things SGA puts together for their benefit and enjoyment.

"I really hope that people start to expect these things from us and really don't take us for granted, and know that we are out there helping them and supporting them," Newby said.

Shapiro also wants students to know that they have his support, and that he's look out for them. If approved, his proposal for an SGA Safe Campus program would do just that.

Students would visit various locations on campus, such as the UCF Counseling Center and Student Legal Services, and acquire information about all of the services available to them. After students visit all nine of the proposed stops, they would receive a Safe Knight certification.

"I remember [senate] asked me what the perfect year would be … and the perfect year would definitely be to manifest all of the initiatives I've proposed, definitely get more participation and motivation of all the associate justices and justice leaguers and to launch that program, SGA Safe Campus," Shapiro said.

While they're all confident in their abilities and ideas, Miller said their experiences have taught them to expect the unexpected.

"We'll do the best we can, but at the end of the day, someone's always going to be criticizing things."