ETSU SGA President Mason Mosier will speak for the student body one last time at both commencement ceremonies on Saturday, but will also receive a bachelor’s degree in political science as well as media and communication.
Mosier stepped into the role of SGA president in Fall 2021, ushering in a two-year period in this position. He is known for his efforts starting up the Collaboration Initiative, bringing Taco Bell back to campus and helping promote changes to the Basler Center for Physical Activity (CPA) dress code.
He served SGA for all four years at the university. As president, he is most proud of bringing life back to campus during the transitional time following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Campus was in the depths of [COVID-19], and the future of student life looked bleak,” said Mosier in his last email to students. “I must admit that when I said the best was yet to come, I often wondered if it truly would. To my surprise, and because of the hard work each of us put in, this institution went from its darkest days to its best days in less than two years’ time.”
Mosier is confident student engagement will continue to grow and more opportunities for experiential learning will come along with the involvement of SGA’s executive team and senators.
One of his favorite memories from his time as SGA president is the Taco Bell grand opening and watching SGA grow throughout the year.
“We had hundreds of people there to witness the return of Taco Bell,” Mosier said. “How blessed I was to watch that happen under my term. Another was watching my successor grow into a leader. Good leadership is not what one does in their time as an executive but the people they mentor along the way.”
If ETSU remembers anything, Mosier hopes they see his legacy as one that promoted unity and togetherness.
“This administration sought to bring back the Bucs,” concluded Mosier. “Even more than bringing back the Bucs, though, we wanted to create One ETSU. When students speak with one voice, anything is possible.”
Mosier will be passing the baton off to Trent White, a rising junior, political science major and a minor in public administration.
White, originally from Erwin, Tennessee, White has been involved in SGA since his freshman year.
During the ETSU SGA election for the 2023-2024 academic year, White ran unopposed for the position, putting him in a unique spot. He described his reaction to winning as a surreal, cool and humbling experience.
“I knew that going into it, it was important to keep a humble attitude and a mindful perception of all students on campus,” said White. “It [is] important to represent all students.”
In terms of policy, White and his executive team plan to continue to work towards funded internship opportunities for students, emphasizing “dead” week and its importance before finals and improving the Wi-Fi in residence halls. He has already started talking to students about what their concerns are and how they plan to approach those issues.
“I’m mostly looking forward to meeting new people, hearing their stories and learning from them,” White added. “I think that part of being SGA president is not that you lead people from the front, but are really going into the crowds and going into different student organizations and hearing and listening, using that to establish policies and work towards initiatives.”
Looking ahead, White is excited about some projects ETSU’s SGA is hoping to help bring to the table. These include food trucks on campus, a smoothie shop and continuing to improve the quality and engagement with SGA concerts. Most immediately, students will see the Einstein Bros. Bagels inside the Charles C. Sherrod Library changed to a Dunkin’ Donuts for Fall 2023.
“We’re excited to be a part of that,” said White. “[Einstein Bros. Bagels] is great, but to have Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts on one campus, that is for all students. You either like Starbucks or you like Dunkin’, and Dunkin’ is going to be a great asset to have.”
Eventually, White will be working with this group of SGA senators and the executive to transform the Subway and convenience store beside Warf-Pickel Hall into a sit-down restaurant. He stressed the importance of giving students the chance to be in community together without having to drive off campus.
More than anything, he is excited to get his start in the role and make a difference at ETSU.
“I am honored to serve you as your next SGA president,” finished White. “I believe that we can truly work together to make ETSU a place where innovation, excellence and opportunity are not just buzz words, but lived experiences. Together, we can do that.”
