Caleb Orr ran unopposed for vice president in SA’s spring elections for executive officers.
SA vice president Caleb Orr resigned Monday after accepting a position on the staff of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) in Washington, D.C.
Orr, junior political science major from McKinney, spent the last two summers interning on Capitol Hill for Rubio’s office. After this summer’s internship with the senator, who is a candidate for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, he received a job offer as a legislative correspondent dealing with fiscal and economic policy.
“I have had some great opportunities these last two summers,” Orr said. “Sen. Rubio has an incredible staff in Washington, some of the best in the Senate. I’m very grateful for this chance to work in his office, even at my young age.”
Though Orr will pack up his SA office and leave Abilene Wednesday, he will remain enrolled as an ACU student. He will take six hours in the fall and nine hours in the spring in a combination of online classes and guided studies.
“I’m still a student and still representing ACU while I’m out in D.C.,” Orr said. “There are many unique educational experiences I can bring back to ACU in political science and student government by working on the ground in the Senate for an influential senator like Rubio.”
As for coming back to campus, Orr will take his decision semester by semester. He plans to commit through the end of Rubio’s senate term, which would end in 2017 and would put Orr back in Abilene for the second semester of his senior year.
“There’s no analog to what I am doing,” Orr said. “The way I’m looking at it is I have been uniquely formed and shaped by my experience at ACU so far. I have the chance to use that training in service to a senator that I really believe in. I’m willing to take that chance wherever the Lord leads me.”
Beau Carter, SA executive president, said Orr’s announcement was met with excitement after the initial shock.
“When Caleb told me a couple weeks ago, first I was surprised,” Carter said. “But, ultimately, I thought how incredible of an opportunity. I am very excited for him. For everyone that knows Caleb, it is a dream come true. We will miss him here, and we were excited to work with him but understand he is being called elsewhere.”
Carter said he hopes to know who will replace Orr as vice president by Friday so he or she can attend the executive officer retreat this weekend. The individual selected will be take over voting and elections for the upcoming SA election September 9 and 10.
The SA constitution states in the situation that the vice president or treasurer resigns, the president will make a nomination for an appointment that congress will have to pass with a two-thirds vote. The nominee will serve as interim vice president until officially appointed Sept. 11, after Congress is elected.
“I’ve been through a resignation before so I know how the transition works,” Carter said. “I’m excited to move forward with our nomination and keeping our office moving.”
Orr will assist and consult with Carter and Chris Riley, vice president of student life, on the appointment of the new vice president.
“It’s very hard to leave SA, and it’s bittersweet to leave ACU,” Orr said. “Today was my last Chapel for junior year. You realize how great of a community this is. I’ve had nothing but love and support from so many different people I’ve known on campus, but it makes it that much harder to leave. This was a very difficult decision for me and my family, but I’m feeling very excited for this unique opportunity.”
