Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Roxana Vasquez Next year's ASUA senators are sworn in to office yesterday afternoon in front of Old Main. A spot was empty on stage because of Sen. Rosie Reid-Correa's resignation Tuesday.

Media Credit: Roxana Vasquez ASUA President Tommy Bruce holds up his gift for Executive Vice President Jessica Anderson. It is customary for elected ASUA executives to exchange gifts during inauguration.

ASUA introduced next year's senators and executives yesterday, but for now it will be one person short.

Senator-elect Rosie Reid-Correa resigned from the Associated Students of the University of Arizona on Tuesday to focus on the heavy coursework she has acquired from changing majors, she said.

"I am completely and utterly devastated. I hate letting the students down," she said. "And that's exactly what I feel like I'm doing."

Reid-Correa is the second senator to resign in the last two months, following James Pennington-McQueen, who resigned after losing his bid for administrative vice president in the March 12 general election.

After speaking with Reid-Correa, ASUA President Tommy Bruce agreed her resignation, while untimely, was ultimately necessary.

"It was definitely the right decision for her," he said.

The student government will hold a special election in the fall to fill the empty senate seat, Bruce said, adding that specific dates are yet to be determined.

All standard election rules will apply, he said.

Reid-Correa's resignation will not hurt the Senate as it embarks on next year's projects, Bruce said, citing Sen. Ezekiel Gebrekidane's transition to the Senate after Pennington-McQueen departed.

The senator to be elected will get a late jump on next year's projects, as the incoming senators already began their work for the fall prior to yesterday's ceremony at Old Main.

Sen. Jason Mighdoll is setting up meeting times with the Campus Health Service next semester in accordance with his plan to expand the flu vaccine system, he said.

"I'm so excited. I can't wait," he said. "I honestly think this is going to be an amazing year."

His time as recorder for the outgoing senators has given Mighdoll an idea of what to expect as a senator, he said.

The inauguration turned emotional for some senators, who clutched their family members following the ceremony.

"It's a humbling feeling. We're not here for ourselves; we're here for the students," said Sen. Bryan Baker. "And I really believe that."

Safety measures in dormitories are in dire need of an overhaul, following the September slaying of a UA student in Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall and the sexual assault in Manzanita-Mohave Residence Hall last year, Baker said.

Baker is meeting with Residence Life officials concerning how best to improve campus safety and the quality of student protection, he said.

"(Resident assistants) usually don't talk to their students a lot about security," Baker said. "I know mine didn't."

Next year's officials are led by Bruce and Executive Vice President Jessica Anderson. The duo was re-elected to their current positions, a feat never before accomplished in ASUA's 95-year history.

Bruce's father declined to give his son a congratulatory gift after Bruce's successful election as president last year.

When he asked his father about his gift, his father replied, "I'll give it to you when you get it again next year," Bruce said.

"Dad, I'm holding you to that," he said.

Bruce and Anderson's ability to continue responsibilities they already hold is valuable to ASUA, as they do not need to take extra time to become accustomed to the job, Bruce said.

"A huge part of our jobs is building relationships," he said. "And we've already done that."

As the lone executive leaving ASUA, outgoing Administrative Vice President Jen Dang spoke about the rewarding aspects of the job while giving advice to successor Seema Patel.

"You work really closely with people in programs and services," Dang said. "That's something I'm really going to miss."

Bruce used his closing remarks to tout the student government's headway in programs ranging from club funding to last week's Kanye West concert at McKale Center.

The incoming Senate will immediately begin work to continue ASUA's commitment to the university, he said.

"The only reason we do this, the only reason we spend sleepless nights working on projects, is for the students," he said. "Get excited for another year."

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