By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor
Impassioned speeches resonated throughout Hart Auditorium on Wednesday, but none came from Students’ Association Congress members.
Members of Alpha Psi Omega, a theatre student honors group, presented brief theatrical performances during the weekly SA Congress meeting to show their appreciation for Congress’ financial support earlier this semester.
During the Feb. 16 meeting, Congress granted $2,480 to the group to help 13 student actors and five student technicians attend the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Birmingham, Ala., from March 4-8.
“You guys have blessed us a lot – thousands of ways – this semester and last semester,” said Shae Candelaria, senior theatre major from Mesquite.
Blake Rogers, sophomore theatre major from Athens; Michelle Alexander, senior theatre major from Abilene; and Jasmin Richardson, senior theatre major from Houston; all performed the same auditions they delivered to several groups of judges at the conference. Candelaria said the judges were so impressed by their presentations that the group received a total of 110 phone calls afterward. Following the presentations, Candelaria presented a framed photograph with a thank-you message to SA President Sarah Pulis.
“We wouldn’t have been able to go there without help from you guys,” Candelaria said. “We just really thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Including Alpha Psi Omega’s presentations, the SA Congress meeting lasted a little more than 13 minutes. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to announcements, such as SA communication officer Lauren Sanders’s redesign of the SA Congress Web site, www.acustudents.com. The site now includes the biographies and photographs of the students running for executive officer positions for next year’s Congress. The elections for the positions will begin Tuesday.
Another announcement asked for nominations for Congressperson of the Year, which Congress members will begin submitting this week. The SA Congress will vote for the winner of the award during next week’s meeting.
“This should be a person who has gone above and beyond this year in their service to SA and the student body,” Pulis said.
