March 23, 2011

Contact:   Bill Giduz

New SGA leaders Jordan Starck '12 and Gerard Dash '12.

The new leaders of the Student Government Association (SGA) take their positions seriously. President Gerard Dash '12 and Vice President Jordan Starck '12 both have extensive SGA experience, and want to run a tight ship. "Efficiency is important," said Dash. "We need to make sure everyone is communicating and following through on their jobs."

That's not to say Thursday night SGA meetings won't include a few laughs. Dash is easily recognized around campus for his warm and gentle grin. And when he's tickled, Starck erupts in a broad full-body guffaw.

But the two leaders want the 42 student body representatives in SGA to take their positions seriously. The chancellor will take attendance at meetings. Absences, and even tardies, will count toward a "three strike" policy that could result in a member's dismissal. The chancellor will also monitor meetings to make sure parliamentary procedure is followed. Each meeting's agenda is outlined by number and letter, and projected on a screen at the front of the room. All senators are expected to attend an overnight, off-campus SGA retreat later in the semester.

The rules will help SGA achieve its potential, said Dash. "I enjoy the unlimited possibilities of SGA," he said. "You can do anything you envision for the school through SGA."

Dash and Starck know each other well, having been involved in SGA throughout their Davidson careers. Starck is assured that Dash will be an effective leader. "Gerard hustles," Starck said. "He's been around a lot of big projects, from the SGA Voices project to the Davidson Ball and all the things he's done with the Union Board. He likes stuff that takes a lot of time and coordination. Gerard is about building support teams and bringing members into the fold."

As vice president, Starck's main responsibility will be monitoring and motivating the nine SGA committees.

In addition to working toward a more efficient SGA that more students care about, Dash and Starck cited four other initiatives they hope the group will successfully engage during their tenures. They would like the college to offer course credits for substantial internships, to advocate for a more diverse faculty and more attention to ethnic diversity in course material. They also want to promote local foods in dining services, and will lead the SGA in considering options for membership representation.

Dash, a political science major from Columbia, S.C., who's also pursuing pre-medical studies, was a freshman class senator, SGA council chair as a sophomore, and was vice president last year. He has served on a Strategic Planning implementation team, was a member of the Council for Campus and Religious Life, and was treasurer of the Union Board.

Vice-president Starck speaks at a recent SGA meeting while President Dash looks on.

He has also been a resident adviser for two years, and will serve as a building manager next year. He worked as a July Experience counselor one summer, and plans to participate in the Davidson in Washington program this summer. Both he and Starck participated in the biology department's Strategies for Success program, and they both mentor current students in the program.

Starck, a Belk Scholar and Chidsey Leadership Fellow from Columbia, Md., is a psychology major with an interest in teaching. He has worked with Freedom Schools, taught at a middle school in Ghana, and served as defensive coach for a local middle school's football team that had an undefeated season. Under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Hilton Kelly, he has written two research papers about educational policy and presented them at conferences. He is membership intake coordinator for Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and has obtained a Davidson Research Initiative grant to work on a project this summer with Professor Kristi Multhaup.

But why get involved in SGA, an activity that requires every free moment they can give it? Dash said, "I enjoy giving people the chance to have their voices heard. Hearing what students want, and get things going based on that, really interests me."

Starck enjoys the insider's view of college policy that he gets through SGA service. "I like the access to information, seeing what's happening at the school, having input into policy, and sharing that with other students. I like opening the school up for students."

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,900 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
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