Student Government presidents say job taught leadership skills

Being in charge has its rewards, whether it's receiving advice from President Ronald Reagan or special parking privileges, say those who have served as Student Government president at Southeast Missouri State University.

In Alison Sorenson Staggs' case, the leadership post allowed her to meet and greet President Ronald Reagan when he visited Cape Girardeau on Sept. 14, 1988. Reagan is one of only three sitting presidents to have visited the city. The others are William Howard Taft and Bill Clinton.

As Student Government president, Staggs served on a committee that helped plan Reagan's appearance at the Show Me Center. She sat next to Reagan on stage.

Staggs said the president put her at ease, telling her, "Don't worry. Just smile."

During her one year in office, she gave over 30 speeches, including ones to state lawmakers. She said the time demands taught her to be organized, a practice that has carried over to her current job as executive director of the local office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, a mentoring service for children.

There's more to being Student Government president than public speeches and university ceremonies, Staggs and her fellow presidents say. Being in charge of a student legislature and a big budget has taught them leadership skills.

Student Government allocates $215,000 a year in student fees to help fund various campus activities.

Election process

Students annually elect the Student Government president and two other executive officers, as well as 27 student legislators known as senators. Four first-year students are appointed to the legislative body by a student committee. Six others are appointed to committee and staff posts by the Student Government president and confirmed by the student Senate.

Some Student Government built political careers after college.

Four currently work at the state Capitol in Jefferson City, including two state representatives -- Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau and Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff. Crowell was Student Government president in the 1994-1995 school year. Richardson was in charge of the student legislature in the 1973-1974 year.

Two other past presidents -- Jeff Davis and David Barklage -- serve on the staff of state Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau.

Davis, who provides legal counsel to Kinder, was president in the 1993-1994 year. Barklage, who headed up Student Government in the 1983-1984 year, serves as Kinder's chief of staff.

A former law clerk for a state appeals court judge, Davis said his year as Student Government president was invaluable. "Anytime you are in charge of an organization, you acquire some management skills," he said.

As Student Government president, Davis learned an important lesson about bringing an issue to a vote.

"I learned you have to always have the votes counted before you have a vote," said Davis.

Crowell said he learned a lot from being Student Government president. "It gives you tremendous people skills," he said.

Crowell said he had to learn to deal with a diverse student body, many with views and interests far different than those he grew up with in Cape Girardeau.

"I had to learn to listen to people, not just hear them," he said.

The job of president didn't pay a dime. "The only perk I had was a parking pass," said Crowell. He said the pass that allowed him to park in spots other students couldn't, a definite benefit at a school where parking can be hard to find.

As Student Government president, he worked with Dr. Kala Stroup, then university president, and Dr. Ken Dobbins, then executive vice president of the school.

Today, Stroup is commissioner of higher education in Missouri and Dobbins is president of Southeast. Crowell said he still works with Stroup and Dobbins, only now as a state lawmaker.

Springboard to council

During Barklage's tenure as Student Government president, a new student constitution was enacted. "We reorganized at all levels," he recalled.

Barklage finds similarities between his efforts to reorganize Student Government in the 1983-1984 school year and his work as Kinder's chief of staff to restructure Senate operations.

For Barklage, Student Government proved to be a springboard into city politics. He previously had been immersed in politics as campaign manager for then-congressman Bill Emerson.

While Student Government president, he won election to the Cape Girardeau City Council at the age of 22, finishing as the top vote-getter among six candidates.

Barklage and other past presidents say there's a bond among those that served in that position at Southeast.

Derek Hudson, the first black student to head Student Government, said they all share common experiences. They were "survivors" of a job that demanded a lot of time and attention, said Hudson, who served as president in the 1992-1993 school year.

Hudson said he had to juggle his studies, a part-time job and the numerous meetings and events he attended as Student Government president.

He said the elected position was a learning experience. "I think it really allowed me to refine my people skills and leadership skills," said Hudson, who now runs his own marketing firm in Chicago.

Most Student Government presidents only serve one year in office. Chris Robertson, grew up in Cape Girardeau and was president in the 1995-1996 school year, said the short term didn't make the job easier.

"I think the hardest thing was being able to get anything meaningful done in one year," said Robertson, who is pursuing a doctorate degree in philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis and teaching college philosophy classes. "We just didn't want to have our hair on fire and make noise."

His student administration helped develop Southeast's Common Hour lectures.

But Luke Dalton, the current president, is beginning is second year in office, having been re-elected in the spring.

Dalton said the presidency already has honed his public speaking skills. "I think I will be years ahead when I do get a job," said Dalton, a finance major who is scheduled to graduate in May and plans to go to law school.

Like his predecessors, Dalton has found the post to be a busy one. But also like past presidents, he's thrilled to be in charge.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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