Student Government Part 5 : Building a Better Baylor

Not only does student government have a major impact on the Baylor community, but it also impacts the students who serve in the government as well.

Student government delegates at
the Big XII Student Government Conference

Serving as a student government member provides vast opportunities of being a part of the current changes at Baylor. The members become one of the essential pieces in forming the Baylor experience. Writing legislations that actually cause change on campus is one of the most rewarding parts.  They act as the representatives of the student body.

“I joined Senate because I wanted to be the voice for my constituents’ voice,”Sophomore senator Brian Kim, Houston said.

Student government members are among the first to know about the various issues that are effecting the Baylor campus and Waco community. They are also among the first to know about the different events that will be taking place at Baylor.

Student Body President Michael Wright and EVP Cristina Galvan
speaking at Judge Starr's Inauguration 

But beyond knowing about current Baylor events and changes, student government also acts as a launching pad for opportunities after life at Baylor. Many senators have gone on to have internships and jobs with government officials and lawmakers. Former student body President Jordan Hannah is currently serving directly under Baylor president Judge Ken Starr. The leadership experience that is gained in student government can be used  in the future careers of the current members.

Student Government Part 4: Student Senate

Student senate acts as the legislative branch and exists to advocate on behalf of the student body.

Senators at President Ken Starr's Inauguration 

There are 52 representatives elected by the student body to represent each class. Thirteen from each class.Within student senate, these members are separated into six standing committees to insure that the student body is most efficiently represented. These committees include: Academic Affairs, Community Life, Finance, Operations & Procedures, Public Relations and Limited Allocation Fund.

Each student contributes $5.70 per semester as a part of their tuition fee to the Student Government Allocation Fund. This adds to approximately $87,000 for the Fall 2010 semester. Student senate has sole power as to whom this money is allocated.

Senate meets every Thursday at 5 p.m. to vote on current legislation that is trying to be passed.  This includes the allocations from various student organizations. The meetings are opened to the public.

Student Government Part 3: Class Officers

Sophomore Class Officers: Briana Treadaway(President),
Courtney Carameros(VP) and Courtney Yankowski(Secretary)

Who are the people that flood every Baylor student's inbox with emails about upcoming events? The people who try to generate campus involvement among their classes? These are class officers of Baylor University. Here are the current class officers of 2010-2011.

2010-2011 Class Officers
Senior Class Officers
President Mary Katherine Leslie
Vice-President Rachael Gilbert
Secretary/Treasurer Vacant

Junior Class Officers
President Nate Larson
Vice-President Josh Overton
Secretary/Treasurer Andy Lott

Sophomore Class Officers
President Briana Treadaway
Vice-President Courtney Carameros
Secretary/Treasurer Courtney Yankowski

Freshman Class Officers
President Raechel Adams
Vice-President Benton Miller
Secretary/Treasurer Haley Davis

Each class officer is responsible with forming a class project and provide ample school spirit and unity.

Student Government Part 2: Meet Your Student Body Officers

The executive branch of Baylor's student government is comprised of student body officers, class officers and the president and external vice president's cabinet.

Baylor's executive branch of student government is run by the student body officers.Each officer is elected in the spring and serves for a term of one year. All of the positions must be filled by a student of upper level standing.

The 2010-2011 student body officers include President Michael Wright, External Vice President Cristina Galvan and Internal Vice President Michael Lyssy. Who are the people behind each office? Let's take a look at the current student body officers.

Michael Wright

Baylor's student government page describes the position of the student body president.


"The chief executive officer of student government and the official spokesman of the Baylor student body to all Baylor constituencies, the public and media, and other colleges and universities. This position also advises class officers and the rest of the executive branch," student government said.

Michael Wright is currently serving as student body president. He is a senior Business Fellows and Economics major from Houston. He has served on student senate for two years prior to becoming internal vice president last year. His experience and drive led him to be elected for student body president in the spring.

His email address is Michael_Wright1@baylor.edu.

Feel free to email him any concerns regarding the Baylor community.

Cristina Galvan

 Cristina Galvan currently serves as external vice president in Baylor's student government.

The External Vice President builds relationships between Baylor and the Waco community, the Big 12, the student body and the Alumni Association.

Cristina helped organize the Big 12 student government conference in November. She is also working on tutoring program between Baylor and Waco ISD.

Michael Lyssy

Michael Lyssy serves as the head of student senate and a liaison between the legislative branch and the executive branch in his position of internal vice president. 

Michael served a student senator for two years before taking office in the spring. He is a junior majoring  Intensive International Studies.

Baylor Student Government: Part 1

Founded in 1913, Student government is an essential, active and working part of the student body. Student government is organized into three main branches along the same lines as the United States government. Each branch is designed to address the needs and concerns of the student body in a specific and distinct way, through an organized system of representation. 

Senate in session

Student government members at banquet

Student government is responsible for representing the voice of the Baylor student body on campus. They partner with the Board of Regents, administration, faculty & staff and alumni to ensure students are included in the decision making process.

Student government provides students a chance to gain leadership experience while acting as the voice of the student body.

Members are elected in the spring at Diadeloso and serve for a term of one year.

Fall Break in Waco??

I was planning to go to Knoxville,Tenn., to visit my friends who attend the University of Tennessee, unfortunately my plans failed. This fall break, I will be staying in glorious Waco. I actually am not disappointed. I'm going to get a lot of work done that I have been putting off. I also am going to go shopping in Hillsboro with friends. Madeline Lloyd and I are also planning on hanging out this weekend. Overall, I am just excited to have a break.

Advancer: Mission Waco's Better Block Party

Downtown Waco after tornado in 1953

           In 1953, the worst tornado to ever hit Texas struck down in Waco, Texas, destroying the downtown area. The once vibrant city life became a victim of urban decay as upper income earners moved out of the decaying area.  North Waco once a prosperous area is now filled with crime, drugs, and poverty.

            Now, over fifty years later, Waco developers and area non-profits are teaming up to bring life back into the ailing downtown area.  On Oct. 30, Mission Waco is hosting The Better Block Project as part of the city’s effort to clean up North Waco. They are shutting the streets down on 15^th and Colcord Avenue to hold the festivities. The event will start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. with the Second Annual Jubilee Music Festival.

Mission Waco Founder Jimmy Dorrell

            “We are bringing in area artists and vendors to show people that there is still life in North Waco,” Mission Waco Founder Jimmy Dorrell said.

            There will be activities for all ages to participate in the event. Beatnix, World Cup Café and D’s Mediterranean will provide food for the attendees.  At the conclusion of the event a Beatles cover band from Dallas,Texas, will be performing at the Jubilee Music Festival right on 15^th street.

            Dorrell said that these efforts will hopefully bring potential business owners and home buyers to the area.

Mission Waco is hoping to promote economic development and neighborhood revitalization through the block party. The organization said that before the event, volunteers from the area will be painting and cleaning up the block to show that the neighborhood does have potential.