Op-Eds
From the SGA
Note: This talked about the budget crisis facing Virginia Tech and other public institutions in Virginia. I wrote a very passionate, honest piece that explained the educational lookout in Richmond.
Hold professors to a higher standard
Note: I wrote an article about how the learning environment inside of the classroom is changing. I also highlighted one of Virginia Tech's best Professors, Steve Skripak.
School should be optional on March 18th
Note: There was a threat made to the Virginia Tech campus, and I wanted to ensure the students had a safe outlet. Thus, I spoke out against the University's decision.
Come together to decide Westboro Response
Note: On April 9, 2010, the Westboro Baptist Church decided to picket on Virginia Tech's campus. They were trying to get exposure because of the tragedies that struck our campus. It was exasperating. We ended up being featured on the O'Reilly Factor's "Culture Wars."
Spirit makes Hokie fans the sixth man
Note: SGA's focus was the student. Period. We unveiled the "Generals," which was a huge success thanks to Abby Boggs
Some people need to learn what it means to be a Hokie
Note: I wrote this before I was SGA President, when I felt compelled to speak out against behavior that was not exemplary of a Hokie.
A Day In The Life
Note: This was something I wrote, but not necessarily an Op-Ed. I wrote all of the information, which explained what a typical day in my life as SGA President was like.
Note: This talked about the budget crisis facing Virginia Tech and other public institutions in Virginia. I wrote a very passionate, honest piece that explained the educational lookout in Richmond.
Hold professors to a higher standard
Note: I wrote an article about how the learning environment inside of the classroom is changing. I also highlighted one of Virginia Tech's best Professors, Steve Skripak.
School should be optional on March 18th
Note: There was a threat made to the Virginia Tech campus, and I wanted to ensure the students had a safe outlet. Thus, I spoke out against the University's decision.
Come together to decide Westboro Response
Note: On April 9, 2010, the Westboro Baptist Church decided to picket on Virginia Tech's campus. They were trying to get exposure because of the tragedies that struck our campus. It was exasperating. We ended up being featured on the O'Reilly Factor's "Culture Wars."
Spirit makes Hokie fans the sixth man
Note: SGA's focus was the student. Period. We unveiled the "Generals," which was a huge success thanks to Abby Boggs
Some people need to learn what it means to be a Hokie
Note: I wrote this before I was SGA President, when I felt compelled to speak out against behavior that was not exemplary of a Hokie.
A Day In The Life
Note: This was something I wrote, but not necessarily an Op-Ed. I wrote all of the information, which explained what a typical day in my life as SGA President was like.
Videos
An Actively Caring Culture
Note: Actively Caring for people is my passion. I spoke during an event called "Hokiestone," which took place on April 16, 2010. It was an event of student shared knowledge, and I spoke from the heart. AC4P is a movement designed to spread intentional acts of kindness worldwide.
Virginia Tech: A Gift to VT
Note: This was a video I did with University Relations in order to promote the Campaign for Virginia Tech
Orientation Speech
Note: This speech took me 3 weeks to write. It was truly spoken from the heart. The key part of the message was simple: find and follow your passion.
SGA President Spotlight
Note: Virginia Tech did a spotlight on a day in the life of an SGA President.
Note: Actively Caring for people is my passion. I spoke during an event called "Hokiestone," which took place on April 16, 2010. It was an event of student shared knowledge, and I spoke from the heart. AC4P is a movement designed to spread intentional acts of kindness worldwide.
Virginia Tech: A Gift to VT
Note: This was a video I did with University Relations in order to promote the Campaign for Virginia Tech
Orientation Speech
Note: This speech took me 3 weeks to write. It was truly spoken from the heart. The key part of the message was simple: find and follow your passion.
SGA President Spotlight
Note: Virginia Tech did a spotlight on a day in the life of an SGA President.
Speeches
Hokie Focus
Note: This speech was given the day after April 16th to 2,000 prospective students. I really tried to engage the audience and be creative with my delivery. Hopefully, it worked.
April 16th Speech
Listen here
Note: This was the hardest speech I've ever had to give. I had never been back to the campus on April 16th, except for the original vigil. I lost a friend that day, so this was very emotional for me
Inauguration Speech as Outgoing Officer
Note: This was the last speech I gave as the official SGA President at Virginia Tech. I spoke words of wisdom to the incoming officers and shared some great stories along the way.
University Development Speech
Note: I gave this speech to everyone involved with University Development at Virginia Tech. I spoke about my desire to be involved with development, the current economic state (at the time), and I challenged them not to be complacent
Family Day Speech
Note: I wrote this speech for an audience of mostly parents. I talked about how important being supportive is to their student.
Alumni Association Speech
Note: Before each football game, I would speak to the alumni at the tailgate. Also, I would use this speech when I spoke at reunions.
Orientation Speech
Note: This speech took me 3 weeks to write. It meant a lot to me to potentially be able to influence and impact 5,000+ incoming freshman. What a great honor...
Inauguration Speech As Incoming Officer
Note: This was written by Shane McCarty, Joey Zakutney, Morgan Bradley, Taris Mullins, and I. We spent a lot of time perfecting this. I think it is the best speech I've ever contributed to.
Note: This speech was given the day after April 16th to 2,000 prospective students. I really tried to engage the audience and be creative with my delivery. Hopefully, it worked.
April 16th Speech
Listen here
Note: This was the hardest speech I've ever had to give. I had never been back to the campus on April 16th, except for the original vigil. I lost a friend that day, so this was very emotional for me
Inauguration Speech as Outgoing Officer
Note: This was the last speech I gave as the official SGA President at Virginia Tech. I spoke words of wisdom to the incoming officers and shared some great stories along the way.
University Development Speech
Note: I gave this speech to everyone involved with University Development at Virginia Tech. I spoke about my desire to be involved with development, the current economic state (at the time), and I challenged them not to be complacent
Family Day Speech
Note: I wrote this speech for an audience of mostly parents. I talked about how important being supportive is to their student.
Alumni Association Speech
Note: Before each football game, I would speak to the alumni at the tailgate. Also, I would use this speech when I spoke at reunions.
Orientation Speech
Note: This speech took me 3 weeks to write. It meant a lot to me to potentially be able to influence and impact 5,000+ incoming freshman. What a great honor...
Inauguration Speech As Incoming Officer
Note: This was written by Shane McCarty, Joey Zakutney, Morgan Bradley, Taris Mullins, and I. We spent a lot of time perfecting this. I think it is the best speech I've ever contributed to.
Articles Included In/Quoted
Budget amendment could cost state millions
Note: While the Virginia General Assembly was in session, there was a lot of decisions that negatively affected students regarding the budget. The state was trying to take money from our auxillary funds, which was an unprecedented measure. In the end, that was taken out of the budget.
SGA lobbies for students in state capital
Note: This talks about our lobbying efforts. It talks abut the lobbying process and how successful our efforts were.
Helping hands extend to Haiti
Note: I helped facilitate an effort that raised over $40,000 in aid for Haiti after a disastrous earthquake struck their country.
Delegates hear from students on budget
Note: We lobbied a lot to ensure the student voice was heard. This was another article about our experience lobbying on behalf of the Virginia Tech student body.
Campus Overload - VT notifying parents on alcohol violations
Note: The University made a decision that affected students without first talking with SGA. I spoke out against the University's actions.
Virginia college students fight State's Attorney General
Note: This was in reference to Ken Cuccinelli's letter to public Universities in the state of Virginia, asking them to remove sexual orientation from our Principles of Community. We fought back and Virginia Tech stands by the Principles of Community
Irvine, Brandeis students were wrong about Oren
Note: I spoke against other SGA Presidents who were very rude to Ambassador Oren when he came to their campus. I wrote a letter and had ~100 SGA Presidents sign onto it with me
When good people happen to bad things
Note: This was written by Dr. Frank Shushok, who serves as the Associate Vice President at Virginia Tech. It talks about our Actively Caring for People movement that is starting to make its way on campuses across the country.
Thousands remember April 16 with candlelight vigil
Note: This article explains the planning of the vigil and the speeches President Steger and I gave to the Hokie Nation
Working around the clock
Note: This article talks about SGAs efforts to make Torgersen a 24/7 study facility. It was an extremely tedious endeavor, and I brought the CT along with me for the experience. Change is difficult. It takes a lot of work and a ton of perservence
Westboro Baptist Church protest stir strong emotions
Note: This was the article written after the protest.
From campus to community
Note: This was a feature story on the history of SGA Presidents at Virginia Tech.
Students grapple with counter-protest plans
Note: There was a lot of debating on how to handle the protest. Others thought we should not have had a protest and ignored them. We ended up making our counter-protest about love.
Athletics department pressured to alter ticket process
Note: Many students at Virginia Tech feel the ticketing process is unfair. We worked with the Athletics Department to find out ways we could make some changes
Non-peak dining to save students money
Note: This was one of our major initiatives. We put on a program that allowed students to save money by eating between 3-5pm. We hoped that enough traffic would move from 12-2, where the University isn't maximizing revenue because of the queue), to 3-5 when it is virtually empty.
Plans for Blacksburg Transit GPS tracker moves ahead
Note: This was a project under development for the past 3 years. I am very passionate about making this a reality. All of the work is being done by the Computer Science Department, in particular Travis Webb.
SGA ponders meal plan exchange for Oak Lane
Note: This was a huge issue while I was SGA President. Students living in Greek housing were charged twice if their rooms weren't fully occupied. Also, they would sell their extra meal plan under market value. We have now fixed this issue
Hokies United to continue Haiti relief fund drive
Note: It was a huge undertaking to organize the relief efforts for Haiti. However, the students, faculty, and community members came together and did some amazing things.
Garage to fix, yet restrict parking
Note: This also talks about the Blacksburg Transit GPS tracker that we've worked with the CS Department to develop.
DXpress put on a diet
Note: SGA worked with Housing and Dining to offer more nutritious options in the "fast food type" food court on campus
Note: While the Virginia General Assembly was in session, there was a lot of decisions that negatively affected students regarding the budget. The state was trying to take money from our auxillary funds, which was an unprecedented measure. In the end, that was taken out of the budget.
SGA lobbies for students in state capital
Note: This talks about our lobbying efforts. It talks abut the lobbying process and how successful our efforts were.
Helping hands extend to Haiti
Note: I helped facilitate an effort that raised over $40,000 in aid for Haiti after a disastrous earthquake struck their country.
Delegates hear from students on budget
Note: We lobbied a lot to ensure the student voice was heard. This was another article about our experience lobbying on behalf of the Virginia Tech student body.
Campus Overload - VT notifying parents on alcohol violations
Note: The University made a decision that affected students without first talking with SGA. I spoke out against the University's actions.
Virginia college students fight State's Attorney General
Note: This was in reference to Ken Cuccinelli's letter to public Universities in the state of Virginia, asking them to remove sexual orientation from our Principles of Community. We fought back and Virginia Tech stands by the Principles of Community
Irvine, Brandeis students were wrong about Oren
Note: I spoke against other SGA Presidents who were very rude to Ambassador Oren when he came to their campus. I wrote a letter and had ~100 SGA Presidents sign onto it with me
When good people happen to bad things
Note: This was written by Dr. Frank Shushok, who serves as the Associate Vice President at Virginia Tech. It talks about our Actively Caring for People movement that is starting to make its way on campuses across the country.
Thousands remember April 16 with candlelight vigil
Note: This article explains the planning of the vigil and the speeches President Steger and I gave to the Hokie Nation
Working around the clock
Note: This article talks about SGAs efforts to make Torgersen a 24/7 study facility. It was an extremely tedious endeavor, and I brought the CT along with me for the experience. Change is difficult. It takes a lot of work and a ton of perservence
Westboro Baptist Church protest stir strong emotions
Note: This was the article written after the protest.
From campus to community
Note: This was a feature story on the history of SGA Presidents at Virginia Tech.
Students grapple with counter-protest plans
Note: There was a lot of debating on how to handle the protest. Others thought we should not have had a protest and ignored them. We ended up making our counter-protest about love.
Athletics department pressured to alter ticket process
Note: Many students at Virginia Tech feel the ticketing process is unfair. We worked with the Athletics Department to find out ways we could make some changes
Non-peak dining to save students money
Note: This was one of our major initiatives. We put on a program that allowed students to save money by eating between 3-5pm. We hoped that enough traffic would move from 12-2, where the University isn't maximizing revenue because of the queue), to 3-5 when it is virtually empty.
Plans for Blacksburg Transit GPS tracker moves ahead
Note: This was a project under development for the past 3 years. I am very passionate about making this a reality. All of the work is being done by the Computer Science Department, in particular Travis Webb.
SGA ponders meal plan exchange for Oak Lane
Note: This was a huge issue while I was SGA President. Students living in Greek housing were charged twice if their rooms weren't fully occupied. Also, they would sell their extra meal plan under market value. We have now fixed this issue
Hokies United to continue Haiti relief fund drive
Note: It was a huge undertaking to organize the relief efforts for Haiti. However, the students, faculty, and community members came together and did some amazing things.
Garage to fix, yet restrict parking
Note: This also talks about the Blacksburg Transit GPS tracker that we've worked with the CS Department to develop.
DXpress put on a diet
Note: SGA worked with Housing and Dining to offer more nutritious options in the "fast food type" food court on campus