After serving just one week as pro-temp, Jonathan Moody, psychology sophomore, is settling into his new position as senate chair for the IUS Student Government Association.
“I’ve had mistakes and it can be stressful, but I do it to help students,” Moody said.
Moody’s responsibilities have shifted from tallying votes as pro-temp to striking the gavel at SGA meetings.
Moody said his main job task as pro-temp was to count votes.
As the senate chair, he writes up agendas for SGA meetings, makes sure the senate functions properly and abides by Robert’s Rules of Order, a set of guidelines on how SGA meetings should be conducted.
Moody assumed the senate chair position for the SGA in September when the former senate chair, Josh Sesar, resigned due to time constraints.
According to the SGA’s Constitution, the pro-temp should assume the senate chair position if the presiding senate chair is unable to fulfill their duties.
“I’m proud of Jonathan, he stepped up and you can tell over time what a good choice he made,” Leslie Drury, SGA technology officer, said.
Moody said he puts in five to seven hours per week as senate chair and works extra non-clocked in hours as needed.
He said some of the most pressing issues he has had to handle since taking the senate chair position have been with parking, UCards with Dining Services and the smoking ban.
In the SGA meeting held on Oct. 8, Moody voted against a smoking ban resolution for “butt huts” to be set up in select locations on campus.
“I’m in favor of the smoking in designated areas but the language of the resolution was vague,” Moody said. “The enforcement is ridiculous.”
Moody said he enjoys French history and gathers political inspiration from leaders such as Charles de Gaulle, former president of France.
Moody said in order to be a good leader you have to be a servant, referring to a quote from Gaulle.
“It’s not all about being powerful,” Moody said. “Leadership requires service.”
Moody became a member of the SGA in fall semester 2008, as a senator. He served as senate secretary before becoming pro-temp and senate chair.
By LEAH TATE
Staff Writer
lmtate@ius.edu