With the resignation of Student Union President Michael Moffo and the graduation of VP of Multicultural Affairs Etienne Lombard, Union members will shuffle positions this Monday to keep Union business moving forward.
Zachary Coseglia, the new president of the Union, said while he felt the change between executive vice president and president would be minor, there would be a small change in his overall outlook.
“I think I’ll go about things the same as I did as EVP, but I guess my focus will change a little bit in the sense that I have to think a little bigger and a little broader,” Coseglia said.
Coseglia, a College of Communication senior, said he wants to focus on making sure progress is made with certain issues during his tenure as president.
“What I’m interested in doing now is to do something and to show students we’re doing something in regard to important issues,” Coseglia said. “The two I think are the most important, from what I hear from students, are the guest policy and minority enrollment.”
Taking Coseglia’s position as executive vice president is Caroline Preis, the former vice president of financial affairs. In her new role, Preis will be responsible for giving the EVP report every week, as well as running the Executive Board meetings.
Preis, a COM senior, said she first heard of Moffo’s resignation last Monday.
“It was on Martin Luther King Day around noon,” Preis said. “When I asked what happened, they told me I’d need to be the executive vice president. It was a bad situation, and I’ll step up.”
With Preis becoming the EVP, Moffo asked Carl Woog, a University Professors senator, to step into the position of VP of financial affairs, according to Woog. Woog said he returned from his sister’s wedding, and as soon as he stepped off the plane, his phone began to ring. After Woog called Moffo back, Woog said Moffo told him of the situation and asked him if he’d be interested in the position.
“I said absolutely, and that I would do everything and anything for the Union,” Woog said. “About an hour later, I spoke with Zach, and he told me he wanted to nominate me. And I said, ‘Absolutely, I’m ready to go.'”
However, Woog, who must be ratified by the Union Senate on Monday night, said he had to make a tough decision to resign as a UNI senator.
“It was a decision that was made with great thought and care,” Woog said. “I really enjoy being a part of the legislative body — it’s really a great opportunity, since I’m so closely linked with UNI and the Multicultural Affairs committee. I was really looking forward to working on those projects.”
Woog, a UNI sophomore, said he had already set his goals for the upcoming semester.
“The number one goal is financial security and ensuring that our budget holds through the rest of the semester,” Woog said. “Other than that, I’m interested in advising the other student organizations and being open to them, [Residence Hall Associations] included.”
Woog said he is also interested in seeing how actions taken this year could benefit the future.
“In a bureaucracy, it’s always a challenge to maintain your budget and stay successful for the next year,” Woog said. “I want to be a part of that negotiation with our gracious administration and ensure that we look good for the next year.”
The final opening on the Executive Board was vacated when VP of Multicultural Affairs Etienne Lombard graduated last December. Replacing Lombard, pending Senate ratification, will be College of Arts and Sciences senior Onaje Crawford.
Crawford shadowed Lombard last semester to learn what the job entailed, according to Coseglia. Crawford was unable to be reached for comment yesterday.
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