Shivam Patel is turning over the ETSU Student Government Association presidency to Mason Mosier, who said he plans on ushering in a golden era at ETSU.
Patel feels that COVID-19 and social justice movements defined his time as president. Patel entered the position with aspirations that were not accomplished due to a shift in what ETSU needed.
The initiatives that stand out from Patel and his team are Bucs for Beer, allowing the sale of alcohol at campus events, reforming the Board of Trustees process and creating the pass-fail policy.
Patel said that he did not foresee his role requiring public responses to racial tensions on campus, but he wanted to assure students that their SGA supported them.
Patel said COVID-19 caused a loss of community for SGA members, and it was difficult for him to connect with his peers. Side conversations and hanging out after meetings no longer happened. Patel had to adjust to working with a team of people who he had only ever seen on a screen.
Patel said his favorite memory from SGA was the Holiday Lights ceremony in December 2020, where he gave a speech.
“Just hearing so many people laugh after months, and months and months of not was a grounding experience that brought me back to what community looked like and what the student body still was,” said Patel.
Patel’s takeaways from his time as SGA president are his appreciation for higher education and the work that happens behind the scenes to keep the university running. Patel said that he will hopefully shadow an administrator next year to learn more about higher education.
Patel also commended the great work students are already doing.
“There’s a lot of fantastic potential from student leaders that this university is not seeing,” said Patel. “There are a lot of great students who have voices and skillsets that could really benefit the institution that just haven’t been utilized yet.”
Patel encourages students to apply to SGA, as it was a transformative experience for him, and he advises SGA leaders to be comfortable with disagreements because dialogue with those different from oneself promotes growth.
Mosier is ecstatic to pick up where Patel left off and is hopeful for the future. Mosier’s goal is to unify the campus and lead with a town hall style SGA.
Mosier plans on hosting meetings where student leaders from across campus can come together to voice their needs and concerns. This collaboration would allow organizations to work together on projects and events.
“As a white male, there’s things that I’ll never understand that a lot of people need and a lot of people want to see happen at ETSU,” said Mosier.
Mosier hopes this communication will promote inclusivity and innovation on campus. Mosier wants to bring together anyone who feels as if they do not belong at ETSU.
Other goals of Mosier’s administration include more meal plan options, Wi-Fi boosters and scholarships for minority student groups.
“I think it’s going to start a golden era at ETSU of us cooperating in ways that we never thought possible,” said Mosier.
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